James Moore: Barber the human being - a rarity in public life

Outlook So it's good night and good luck to Brendan Barber.

The TUC director general yesterday announced he was stepping down and the tributes that swiftly followed seemed genuine – even from fierce, ideological opponents such as the Institute of Directors.

Perhaps it was because, despite the fact that he was by no means shy of tweaking their tails, business leaders felt that Mr Barber was a man with whom they could do business.

Perhaps it was simply that he has been that rare thing in public life: a paid up member of the human race.