Darling of the Airwaves

Just seen Alistair Darling on BBC News 24, talking about the stock market and that. I'd love to be able to tell you what he said, but it was so dull, it washed right over me.

I will therefore restrict myself to wondering when was the last time Gordon Brown went on a rolling news channel as Chancellor of the Exchequer (or indeed, as PM). I suspect the answer is "a long time ago". There could hardly be a clearer example of the difference in their importance. Darling is there for purely cosmetic purposes; as soon as he defied Brown, he'd be out on his arse. With nothing to actually do, he is left with the time to appear on any old programme who will have him.