I've never met the guy and have only seen him on TV a handful of times, but I was quite getting to like Alan Johnson - shame, maybe, that he isn't standing for the Labour Party leadership. There is an old saying that - if you can fake sincerity, you've got it made. I don't know whether AJ fakes it - but he certainly gives a strong impression of being a straight-up citizen.
I don't think I'd disagree with the suggestion that Maggie should be on the list of non-self-serving politicians - much as I disagreed with her political philosophy.
I used to work for Norweb Electricity at their offices in Oldham before Sainsbury's bought the site and built a supermarket on it. (My desk was roundabout where the carrots are now). Cyril used to visit from time to time and had lunch with the Norweb Peak Area manager. Norweb had a special chair built for him, about twice as wide as a standard one. I never did come to know him, so have no real idea whether he was a dirtbag, but if he was, he was sure a bloody enormous one.
Andrew