Politicians go to unusual lengths to avoid being seen as decent humans.
When able Jeff Rooker announced that at 58 he would not stand again for Perry Barr, rumours spread that he was planning to become mayor of Birmingham. When I asked, the normally outspoken Mr Rooker dodged answering. I later found out that his wife was seriously ill. It was typical of Mr Rooker not only to advocate but to do the decent thing. Or if he could not, to pay the penalty without complaint.