My first thought was of Alistair Darling, the then chancellor of the exchequer, a man of extraordinary integrity who gave the lie to the idea that all politicians are in it for themselves. A good judge of character, he had few illusions about the motives of some colleagues. But he would have been utterly appalled by the implication of the Epstein files that a fellow cabinet member was leaking confidential government documents and conversations in real time, contrary to the national interest and even potentially the Official Secrets Act.