The Commons: 'A killer place'

The funeral of former MEN political editor Ian Craig took place in his family's home town of Wrexham yesterday, with many regional lobby figures past and present paying their respects.

So today's obituary by David McKittrick in the Independent was particularly timely.

But I have to say my eyes lingered over a rather sombre paragraph in McKittrick's piece, in which Ian's close friend, Ian Hernon of the Liverpool Echo, laments his premature loss.

"He joins a regiment of pals who never made it to retirement. They include fellow hacks, officials and politicians. The point is that this is a killer place. Long hours, the hothouse atmosphere, stress, the political roughhouse, travelling, separation from families – and, let's be honest, 17 bars – all combine to prevent many making old bones."

Hernon himself penned the Guardian's obituary of Ian published on Monday.