John will not go down in the history books as one of Britain's greatest ministers. But, increasingly, he will be seen as a far bigger political figure than contemporary sceptics have allowed far more representative of that uniquely ambivalent mood of Britain in recent years and a far more rounded and caring, if unfulfilled, person.

It is my view that he is a remarkable minister and, indeed, a quite remarkable man. Cynics had a field day ridiculing him. Perhaps that is inevitable given his irresistible tendency to behave like the master of the Big Trick in the circus ring of politics - for whom there is nothing so humiliating as to have it demonstrated, often by fellow tricksters, that the Big Trick hasn't worked.

It is sad he will not run for Prime Minister.