Leader: Darling's candour highlights leadership woes

WAS Alistair Darling quoted out of context in his reference to the worst economic crisis in 60 years? If so, he has only himself to blame. The Chancellor's weekend press interview was much more unguarded than his normal tight-lipped approach to the media, with references to voters being "p****d off" by Labour's handling of the economy, and even an uncharacteristic sly aside about Wendy Alexander. Readers of Mr Darling's interview might conclude that he was letting off steam

As to the substance of his remarks about the economy, Mr Darling says he was referring not to the gravity of the threats posed – the credit crunch combined with commodity price inflation – but to their immediate impact. Clearly, the current extent of...