A Labour leader speaks

Watching Gordon Brown's moist-eyed reception of Tony Blair's praise a few minutes ago, I was reminded of a story about James Maxton, the early socialist leader (and subject of a biography by Gordon Brown).

After the death of Maxton's wife the Clydesider sat on a platform to hear Ramsay MacDonald. The Labour leader, with whom Maxton's relationship had become tense, addressed the meeting with great eloquence. MacDonald, whose speciality was sentimental rhetoric, praised Maxton's wife and Maxton himself. His words were generous and moving.

The tears streamed down Maxton's face and under his breath he kept saying this: "The bastard, the bastard".