Alistair Darling

Alistair Darling was born on 28 November 1953 in Hendon, then part of Middlesex (now London), the son of a civil engineer, Thomas, and his wife, Anna MacLean.{{cite news|url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/biography/0,,-1271,00.html |title=Darling, Alistair |work=The Guardian |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041228101127/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/biography/0%2C%2C-1271%2C00.html |archive-date=28 December 2004}} He was the great-nephew of Sir William Darling, a Conservative/Unionist Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South (1945–1957) who had served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh during the Second World War.{{Cite web |last=Rentoul |first=John |date=July 18, 2017 |title=The Top Ten: MPs with Parliament in their blood |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-top-ten-mps-with-parliament-in-their-blood-a404931.html |access-date=December 1, 2023 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706234136/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-top-ten-mps-with-parliament-in-their-blood-a404931.html |url-status=live }} He was educated at Chinthurst School, in Tadworth, Surrey, then in Kirkcaldy, and at the private Loretto School,{{cite web |title=Some former pupils show the way |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/some-former-pupils-show-the-way-1.324733 |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=6 October 1998 |access-date=2 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603000651/http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/some-former-pupils-show-the-way-1.324733 |archive-date=3 June 2013 |url-status=live}} in Musselburgh. He attended the University of Aberdeen, from where he graduated as a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).{{Cite web |last=Cochrane |first=Angus |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Alistair Darling: Alex Salmond praises 'formidable' referendum rival |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67580566 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130232935/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-67580566 |url-status=live }} He became the president of Aberdeen University Students' Representative Council.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28857052|title=A brief history of Alistair Darling|last=Black|first=Andrew|date=25 August 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909155059/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28857052|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}

Darling joined the Labour Party aged 23, in 1977.{{Cite news |last=Cook |first=James |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Alistair Darling: 'Serious, discreet and driven by fairness' |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-67581555 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201013848/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-67581555 |url-status=live }} He became a solicitor in 1978, then changed course for the Scots bar and was admitted as an advocate in 1984. In 1982 he was elected to the Lothian Regional Council, where he supported large rates rises in defiance of Margaret Thatcher's rate-capping laws, and even threatened not to set a rate at all.p5, Private Eye no. 1218, 5–18 September 2008 He served on the council until he was elected to the House of Commons.{{Cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Heather |last2=Carrell |first2=Severin |date=November 30, 2023 |title=Former chancellor Alistair Darling dies aged 70 |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/30/former-chancellor-alistair-darling-dies-aged-70 |access-date=December 1, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130214543/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/nov/30/former-chancellor-alistair-darling-dies-aged-70 |url-status=live }}

Darling first entered Parliament at the 1987 general election in Edinburgh Central, defeating the incumbent Conservative MP, Sir Alexander Fletcher, by 2,262 votes; and remained an Edinburgh MP for 28 years until he stood down in 2015.{{cite web |date=3 November 2014 |title=Alistair Darling to stand down as MP |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29873595 |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=BBC News |archive-date=3 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103080526/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-29873595 |url-status=live}}

Following the creation of the devolved Scottish Parliament, the number of Scottish seats at Westminster was reduced, and the Edinburgh Central constituency he represented was abolished, to be split between constituencies centred on peripheral areas of the city. The Labour government offered a peerage to Lynda Clark, the Advocate General for Scotland, so that Darling could contest the new Edinburgh South West constituency, the main successor to Clark's Edinburgh Pentlands constituency.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2003 |title=Clark becomes political pawn |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/clark-becomes-political-pawn-2509131 |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Scotsman}}{{Cite web |date=24 February 2004 |title=MP resignation clears way for Darling |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12516940.mps-resignation-clears-way-for-darling/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Herald}} At the 2005 general election, he won the seat.{{Cite web |date=6 May 2005 |title=Parties reflect on poll outcome |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/scotland/4522199.stm |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=29 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029220253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/scotland/4522199.stm |url-status=live }} The Labour Party was so concerned that Darling might be defeated that several senior party figures, including deputy prime minister John Prescott and chancellor Gordon Brown, made encouragement trips to the constituency during the campaign. Despite being a senior Cabinet minister, Darling was hardly seen outside the area, as he was making the maximum effort to win his seat.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555903/Whos-who-in-Browns-Cabinet.html|title=Who's who in Brown's Cabinet|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=27 June 2007|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150630/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1555903/Whos-who-in-Browns-Cabinet.html|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}} In the event he won it with a majority of 7,242 over the second-placed Conservative candidate, the latter having been held back by the Liberal Democrats coming in a close third. Darling won by a comfortable 16.5% margin on a 65.4% turnout. In 2010, despite Labour's defeat nationally, he received an increased majority of 8,447.{{Cite web |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=7 May 2010 |title=UK election results: Darling hails Labour's performance in Scotland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/alistair-darling-hails-labour-scotland |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=30 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230130110115/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/alistair-darling-hails-labour-scotland |url-status=live }}

As a backbencher he sponsored the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880042_en_1.htm|title=Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 42)|access-date=4 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226210132/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1988/Ukpga_19880042_en_1.htm|archive-date=26 February 2008|url-status=live}} He soon became an opposition home affairs spokesman in 1988 on the front bench of Neil Kinnock.{{Cite web |date=23 June 2012 |title=Curriculum vitae: Alistair Darling |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13062709.curriculum-vitae-alistair-darling/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Herald}}

Following the 1992 general election, he became a spokesman on Treasury affairs, but was promoted to Tony Blair's Shadow Cabinet as the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury in 1996.{{cite news|title=Tony Blair's 1997 Cabinet: Where are they now?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/11608371/Tony-Blairs-1997-Cabinet-Where-are-they-now.html|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 May 2015|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909185001/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/uknews/11608371/Tony-Blairs-1997-Cabinet-Where-are-they-now.html|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-14779262|title=Profile: Alistair Darling|date=4 September 2011|work=BBC News|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909155055/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-14779262|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}

File:AlistairDarlingABr.JPG

Following the 1997 general election, he entered Cabinet as the chief secretary to the Treasury.{{Cite web |last=Scott |first=Jennifer |date=30 November 2023 |title=Alistair Darling: Former Labour chancellor dies aged 70 |url=https://news.sky.com/story/former-labour-chancellor-alistair-darling-dies-13019561 |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=Sky News}} In 1998, he was appointed Secretary of State for Social Security, replacing Harriet Harman who had been dismissed.{{Cite web |last1=Francis |first1=Sam |last2=Islam |first2=Faisal |date=30 November 2023 |title=Alistair Darling: Steady hand in an economic crisis |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67578991 |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201004945/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67578991 |url-status=live }} Following the 2001 general election, the Department of Social Security was abolished and replaced by the new Department for Work and Pensions, which also took employment away from the education portfolio. Darling fronted the new department until 2002 when he was moved to the Department for Transport, after his predecessor Stephen Byers resigned.

Darling was given a brief to "take the department out of the headlines". He oversaw the creation of Network Rail, the successor to Railtrack, which had collapsed in controversial circumstances for which his predecessor was largely blamed.{{Cite web |date=28 May 2002 |title=Transport secretary Stephen Byers resigns |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/may/28/localgovernment.transportintheuk |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=26 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226032556/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/may/28/localgovernment.transportintheuk |url-status=live }} He also procured the passage of the legislation – the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 – which abolished the Rail Regulator and replaced the post with the Office of Rail Regulation.{{Cite web |title=Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/20/contents |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=gov.uk |archive-date=6 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054434/https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/20/contents |url-status=live }} He was responsible for the Railways Act 2005 which abolished the Strategic Rail Authority, a creation of the Labour government under the Transport Act 2000. Darling was also responsible for the cancellation of several major light rail schemes, including a major extension to Manchester Metrolink{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3910235.stm |title=Government scraps trams extension |date=20 July 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130131843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/3910235.stm |url-status=live }} (later reversed) and the proposed Leeds Supertram,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4403788.stm |title=Tram refusal a slap in the face |date=3 November 2005 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061224173220/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4403788.stm |archive-date=24 December 2006 |url-status=live }} citing rising costs of £620{{nbsp}}million and £486 million respectively.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Darling gave the government's support to the Crossrail scheme for an east–west rail line under London,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3910091.stm |title=Government backs 10bn Crossrail |date=20 July 2004 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902234428/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3910091.stm |archive-date=2 September 2017 |url-status=live}} whose £10 billion projected cost later rose to £15 billion.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Although he was not at the Department for Transport at the time of the collapse of Railtrack, Darling vigorously defended what had been done in a speech to the House of Commons on 24 October 2005.{{Cite web |date=25 October 2005 |title=Yesterday in parliament |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/25/houseofcommons |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=20 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920022547/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/oct/25/houseofcommons |url-status=live }} This included threats that had been made to the independent Rail Regulator that if he intervened to defend the company against the government's attempts to force it into railway administration – a special status for insolvent railway companies{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} – the government would introduce emergency legislation to take the regulator under direct political control.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2003, when the Scotland Office was folded into the Department for Constitutional Affairs, he was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in combination with his Transport portfolio.

In the Cabinet reshuffle of May 2006, he was moved to be Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Douglas Alexander replaced him as both Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland.{{Cite web |date=5 May 2006 |title=At-a-glance: Tony Blair reshuffle |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4976414.stm |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=4 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204135217/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4976414.stm |url-status=live }} On 10 November 2006 in a mini-reshuffle, Malcolm Wicks, the Minister for Energy at the Department of Trade and Industry, and thus one of Darling's junior ministers, was appointed Minister for Science while Darling took over day-to-day control of the Energy portfolio.{{Cite web |date=10 November 2006 |title=Wicks appointed science minister in mini-reshuffle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/10/immigrationpolicy.highereducation |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=26 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926042737/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/nov/10/immigrationpolicy.highereducation |url-status=live }}

File:Darling, Lagarde, Geithner (IMF 2009).jpg and US secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner in Istanbul, 2009]]

On 28 June 2007, the new prime minister and former chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown promoted Darling to replace himself as chancellor, a promotion widely anticipated in the media.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/8734993/The-truth-behind-Alistair-Darlings-attack-on-Gordon-Brown.html|title=The truth behind Alistair Darling's attack on Gordon Brown|last=Cochrane|first=Alan|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 September 2011|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150514/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/alancochrane/8734993/The-truth-behind-Alistair-Darlings-attack-on-Gordon-Brown.html|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}} Journalists observed that three of Darling's four junior ministers at the Treasury (Angela Eagle, Jane Kennedy and Kitty Ussher) were female, and dubbed his team "Darling's Darlings".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jul/13/politicalcolumnists.politics|title=Simon Hoggart's sketch: Darling, you're so dreary|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=13 July 2007|access-date=25 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913011721/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jul/13/politicalcolumnists.politics|archive-date=13 September 2014|url-status=live}}

In September 2007, for the first time since 1860, there was a run on a British bank, Northern Rock. Although the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority have jurisdiction in such cases, ultimate authority for deciding on financial support for a bank in exceptional circumstances rests with the chancellor. The 2007 subprime mortgage crisis had caused a liquidity crisis in the UK banking industry, and Northern Rock was unable to borrow as required by its business model. Darling authorised the Bank of England to lend Northern Rock funds to cover its liabilities and provided an unqualified taxpayers' guarantee of the deposits of savers in Northern Rock to try to stop the run. Northern Rock borrowed up to £20 billion from the Bank of England,{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7063184.stm | title=US private equity firm eyes Rock | work=BBC News | date=26 October 2007 | access-date=1 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902235222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7063184.stm | archive-date=2 September 2017 | url-status=live }} and Darling was criticised for becoming sucked into a position where so much public money was tied up in a private company.{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7112830.stm | title=Northern Rock & Virgin: who wins? | work=BBC News | date=26 November 2007 | access-date=1 January 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128115140/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7112830.stm | archive-date=28 November 2007 | url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/39199b78-6489-11dc-90ea-0000779fd2ac|title=UK to guarantee Northern Rock deposits|date=16 September 2007|website=Financial Times|language=en-GB|access-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150645/https://www.ft.com/content/39199b78-6489-11dc-90ea-0000779fd2ac|archive-date=9 September 2018|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/feb/18/northernrock.banking3|title=Darling under fire as Northern Rock is nationalised|last1=Inman|first1=Phillip|last2=Elliott|first2=Larry|date=18 February 2008|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018|last3=Hencke|first3=David|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105090546/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/feb/18/northernrock.banking3|archive-date=5 January 2019|url-status=live}}

In March 2008, Darling's budget was criticised in a media campaign spread by a social networking site. Amid anger at the rise in alcohol duties, James Hughes, a landlord in Edinburgh (where Darling's constituency was based) symbolically barred Darling from his pub, and a passing reporter from the Edinburgh Evening News ran the story. A Facebook group was created, leading dozens of pubs across Britain to follow Hughes, barring Darling from their pubs. The story was eventually picked up by most national press and broadcast media in Britain, and David Cameron, Leader of the Opposition at the time, cited the movement at Prime Minister's Questions on 26 March.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/1582825/%27Ban-Alistair-Darling-from-every-British-pub%27.html | title=Ban Alistair Darling from every British pub | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Christopher | last=Hope | date=26 March 2008 | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620180251/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/1582825/%27Ban-Alistair-Darling-from-every-British-pub%27.html | archive-date=20 June 2008 | url-status=dead }} and{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/mar/26/alistairdarling | title=You're barred, pub campaigners tell Chancellor of the Exchequer| work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Angela | last=Balakrishnan | date=26 March 2008 | access-date=25 March 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813065043/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/mar/26/alistairdarling | archive-date=13 August 2014 | url-status=live }} and{{cite web|url=http://www.stv.tv/content/news/headlines/display.html?id=opencms:/news/Campaign_launched_to_ban_the_Chancellor__2008032|title=Campaign launched to ban the Chancellor of the Exchequer from every pub in the countryLatest Scottish news and headlines from Scotland|publisher=stv.tv}}{{dead link|date=August 2014 }}

On 12 March 2008, Darling gave his first budget in the House of Commons.{{Cite web |date=31 January 2008 |title=Darling's first budget on March 12 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jan/31/budget.budget |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=6 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006142115/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/jan/31/budget.budget |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last1=Stratton |first1=Allegra |last2=Walker |first2=Peter |date=12 March 2008 |title=Budget: the main points |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/mar/12/budget.alistairdarling |access-date=30 November 2023 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=7 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007011113/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/mar/12/budget.alistairdarling |url-status=live }}

On 22 April 2009, Darling delivered his second budget speech in the House of Commons. To stimulate the motor industry, a £2,000 allowance was announced for a car more than 10 years old, if it was traded in for a new car. A 50% tax band was announced for earners of over £150,000 to start the following tax year.{{cite news|date=22 April 2009|title=At-a-glance: Budget 2009|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm|url-status=live|access-date=1 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425061209/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8011882.stm|archive-date=25 April 2009}}

Darling also announced that personal allowance would be tapered down by £1 for every £2 earned above £100,000 until it reached zero which resulted in an anomalous effective marginal tax rate of 60% above £100,000, with the marginal tax rate returning to 40% for incomes above £112,950.{{Cite web |last=Calkin |first=Charles |date=16 April 2021 |title=Taper traps can leave you paying 60 per cent taxes |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1ea04835-4837-43fb-a321-2dcc97539a55 |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Financial Times |archive-date=20 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820035456/https://www.ft.com/content/1ea04835-4837-43fb-a321-2dcc97539a55 |url-status=live }}

Gordon Brown confirmed on 10 March 2010 that Darling would deliver his final third budget before the general election,{{cite news|date=10 March 2010|title=Gordon Brown warns economic storm not over|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8558821.stm|access-date=14 July 2010|archive-date=31 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331090127/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8558821.stm|url-status=live}} which was delivered on 24 March 2010.{{cite news|date=24 March 2010|title=Chancellor Alistair Darling opens the Budget|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8585164.stm?ls|url-status=live|access-date=24 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829133557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8585164.stm?ls|archive-date=29 August 2019}}

{{main|Loss of United Kingdom child benefit data (2007)}}

Darling was Chancellor of the Exchequer when the confidential personal details of over 25{{nbsp}}million British citizens went missing while being sent from his department to the National Audit Office. A former Scotland Yard detective stated that with the current rate of £2.50 per person's details this data could have been sold for £60,000,000.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1293637,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070704015057/http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91211-1293637,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 July 2007 |title=Fraud Risk To Millions After 'Catastrophic' Records Blunder }} The acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, put the value at £1.5 billion, or £60 per identity.{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7117291.stm |title = Discs 'worth £1.5bn' to criminals |work = BBC News|access-date = 11 August 2008 |date = 28 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170821041137/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7117291.stm |archive-date = 21 August 2017 |url-status = live }}

In an interview in The Guardian{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2008/aug/30/alistairdarling.economy|title=Storm warning|work=The Guardian | location=London | first=Decca | last=Aitkenhead | date=29 August 2008 | access-date=25 March 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100302011151/http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/aug/30/alistairdarling.economy| archive-date= 2 March 2010 | url-status= live}} published 30 August 2008, Darling warned, "The economic times we are facing ... are arguably the worst they've been in 60 years. And I think it's going to be more profound and long-lasting than people thought." His blunt warning led to confusion within the Labour Party. However, Darling insisted that it was his duty to be "straight" with people.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4641381.ece | title=Labour in turmoil over Alistair Darling gaffe | work=The Times | location=London | date=31 August 2008 | access-date=25 March 2010 | first1=Isabel | last1=Oakeshott | first2=David | last2=Smith | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151408/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4641381.ece | archive-date=16 July 2011 | url-status=dead }}

In October 2008 the government bailed out the Royal Bank of Scotland as part of the 2008 bank rescue package; Darling said in 2018 that the country was hours away from a breakdown of law and order if the bank had not been bailed out.{{cite web |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/104295018/britain-was-hours-from-breakdown-of-law-and-order-during-gfc-exchancellor |title= Britain was hours from breakdown of law and order during GFC: Ex-chancellor|work=Stuff |date= 29 May 2018 |access-date= 2 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181121111547/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/world/104295018/britain-was-hours-from-breakdown-of-law-and-order-during-gfc-exchancellor |archive-date= 21 November 2018 |url-status= live }}

Darling's predecessor, Gordon Brown, just before he became prime minister, had abolished the 10% starting rate on income tax and reduced the basic rate of income tax from 22% to 20% in his final budget on 21 March 2007; this was to come into effect in the tax year starting 6 April 2008.{{Cite web |date=21 March 2007 |title=Brown cuts basic tax rate by 2p |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6472999.stm |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=BBC News |archive-date=29 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329024702/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6472999.stm |url-status=live }} This was not amended in Darling's 2008 budget. Although the majority of taxpayers would be marginally better off as a result of these changes, around 5,100,000 low earners (including those earning less than £18,000 annually) would have been worse off. On 18 October 2007, the Treasury released statistics which established that childless people on low incomes could lose up to £200 a year as a result of the changes, while parents and those earning more than £20,000 would gain money.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Increasing political backlash about the additional tax burden for some put immense pressure onto the government; including Darling with Brown facing criticism from his own Parliamentary Labour Party.

In May 2008 Darling announced he would help low-paid workers hit by the scrapping of the 10p rate, by raising that year's personal tax allowance by £600 funded by borrowing an extra £2.7 billion.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3927280.ece | title=Gordon Brown pays £2.7 billion to end 10p tax crisis | work=The Times | location=London | date=14 May 2008 | access-date=25 March 2010 | first=Philip | last=Webster | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508060714/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3927280.ece | archive-date=8 May 2009 | url-status=dead }}

To boost falling demand, the government announced an additional £20 billion spending package. Subsequently, Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, warned the government against further stimulus spending, due to insecure public finances.[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/24/bankofenglandgovernor-banking Britain cannot afford any further fiscal stimulus, King warns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305012638/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2009/mar/24/bankofenglandgovernor-banking |date=5 March 2017 }} Kathryn Hopkins,

The Guardian, Tuesday 24 March 2009 15.33 GMT.

Following the defeat of the Labour Party at the 2010 general election, Darling announced that he intended to leave frontbench politics. He endorsed David Miliband to succeed Brown as Leader of the Labour Party in the 2010 leadership election.{{Cite news |last=Wintour |first=Patrick |date=2010-06-01 |title=Alistair Darling backs David Miliband for Labour leadership |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/wintour-and-watt/2010/jun/01/alistair-darling-david-miliband-labour |access-date=2024-07-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

On 17 May 2010, it was reported that he stated: "It has been an honour and a tremendous privilege but I believe it is time for me to return to the backbenches from where I shall look after, with great pride, the constituents of Edinburgh South West."[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7129175.ece "Darling leaves frontbench politics after more than 20 years", Times Online, 17 May 2010] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151359/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7129175.ece |date=16 July 2011 }} Darling suggested on 7 September 2010 on Daily Politics that he was intending only to take a "year out" and might possibly reconsider his future.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11216887 | work=BBC News | title=Ex-Chancellor Alistair Darling: 'I am taking a year out' | date=7 September 2010 | access-date=20 June 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106015013/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11216887 | archive-date=6 January 2016 | url-status=live }}

In May 2009, The Daily Telegraph reported that Darling changed the designation of his second home four times in four years, allowing him to claim for the costs of his family home in Edinburgh, and to buy and furnish a flat in London including the cost of stamp duty and other legal fees. Darling said that "the claims were made within House of Commons rules".{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm |title=MPs' expenses claims – key details |work=BBC News |access-date=13 May 2009 | date=19 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511161834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm| archive-date= 11 May 2009 | url-status= live}}{{cite news|last=Watt |first=Holly |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293500/Alistair-Darlings-stamp-duty-paid-by-public-MPs-expenses.html |title=Daily Telegraph: Alistair Darling |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=8 May 2009 |access-date=13 May 2009 | location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090511055441/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293500/Alistair-Darlings-stamp-duty-paid-by-public-MPs-expenses.html| archive-date= 11 May 2009 | url-status= live}}

Nick Clegg, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticised him by saying: "given that very unique responsibility that [Darling] has [as Chancellor], it's simply impossible for him to continue in that role when such very major question marks are being raised about his financial affairs". A former Scottish Labour chairman and treasurer described Darling's position as "untenable" and said that "[Darling] certainly shouldn't be in the Cabinet".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5418493/MPs-expenses-Alistair-Darling-billed-us-for-two-homes-at-the-same-time.html|title=MPs' expenses: Alistair Darling billed us for two homes at the same time|date=13 May 2009|access-date=3 April 2013|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|first1=Robert|last1=Winnett|first2=Holly|last2=Watt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111193152/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5418493/MPs-expenses-Alistair-Darling-billed-us-for-two-homes-at-the-same-time.html|archive-date=11 November 2012|url-status=live}}

On 1 June 2009, Darling apologised "unreservedly" about a mistaken claim for £700, which he had agreed to repay. He was supported by the Prime Minister, who referred to the incident as an inadvertent mistake.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8077916.stm|title=Darling 'very sorry' over claim|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 June 2009 | date=1 June 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090605161735/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8077916.stm| archive-date= 5 June 2009 | url-status= live}}

In 2010, he resigned from the Faculty of Advocates as they were investigating a complaint about his expenses claims. Darling denied any connection between the two events.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/6968208/Alistair-Darling-resigns-from-law-body-as-it-investigates-his-conduct.html|title=Alistair Darling resigns from law body as it investigates his conduct – Telegraph|date=11 January 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219002739/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/6968208/Alistair-Darling-resigns-from-law-body-as-it-investigates-his-conduct.html|archive-date=19 December 2013|url-status=live}}

File:Econ Drinks 14 - Alastair Darling.jpg

Darling was the chairman and one of the directors of the Better Together campaign, which campaigned for a "No" vote in the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. He was involved in the campaign's launch in June 2012, delivered a speech on the subject in the annual John P Mackintosh lecture in November 2012, and addressed a fringe meeting at the Scottish Conservative Conference in June 2013.{{Cite news|date=2013-06-08|title=Scottish Tory Party conference: Labour's Darling delivers pro-Union message|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22810871|access-date=2024-03-16|work=BBC News|language=en-GB}} In August 2014, Darling took part in Salmond & Darling: The Debate and Scotland Decides: Salmond versus Darling, televised debates with first minister Alex Salmond on the pros and cons of Scottish Independence.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/05/alex-salmond-alistair-darling-scotland-debate-independence |title=Scottish debate: Salmond and Darling in angry clash over independence |newspaper=The Guardian |date=5 August 2014 |access-date=10 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227012418/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/aug/05/alex-salmond-alistair-darling-scotland-debate-independence |archive-date=27 February 2017 |url-status=live }}

Darling was criticised by some Scottish Labour MPs and supporters who believed that working with Conservatives on the Better Together campaign might damage Labour's prospects in Scotland.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/labour-figures-shun-better-together-over-tory-role-1-2985642 |title=Labour figures shun Better Together over Tory role – Top stories |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=2 July 2013 |access-date=26 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925134744/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/labour-figures-shun-better-together-over-tory-role-1-2985642 |archive-date=25 September 2013 |url-status=live }} At the 2015 general election, Labour lost all but one of their seats in Scotland to the SNP, with swings of over 30% in several seats, including a UK record swing of 39.3% against Labour in Glasgow North East.{{Cite web|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|title = Election 2015: SNP wins 56 of 59 seats in Scots landslide'|date = 8 May 2015|access-date = 25 August 2015|website = BBC News|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150521003643/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-scotland-32635871|archive-date = 21 May 2015|url-status = live}} Labour also lost Darling's former constituency to Joanna Cherry of the SNP.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Darling was nominated for a life peerage in the 2015 Dissolution Honours,{{Cite web|title=Dissolution Peerages 2015|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-peerages-2015|access-date=8 August 2020|website=GOV.UK|language=en|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327101222/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dissolution-peerages-2015|url-status=live}} becoming Baron Darling of Roulanish, of Great Bernera in the County of Ross and Cromarty on 1 December 2015.{{London Gazette|date=4 December 2015|issue=61427|page=23850}} He was introduced to the House of Lords on 10 December 2015.{{cite Hansard |title=Introduction: Lord Darling of Roulanish |jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2015-12-10/debates/15121052000802/IntroductionLordDarlingOfRoulanish |house=House of Lords |date=10 December 2015 |volume=767 |column=1671 }} {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026121156/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2015-12-10/debates/15121052000802/IntroductionLordDarlingOfRoulanish |date=26 October 2016 }} Darling retired from the Lords on 28 July 2020, citing distance and the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|date=28 July 2020|title=Ex-chancellor Alistair Darling retires from House of Lords|url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/ex-chancellor-alistair-darling-retires-from-house-of-lords|access-date=8 August 2020|website=STV News|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324082054/https://news.stv.tv/politics/ex-chancellor-alistair-darling-retires-from-house-of-lords|url-status=live}}

Darling had a brief previous marriage when young,{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Joe |date=19 June 2001 |title=Cabinet's own marriage failures force retreat on traditional wedlock |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1314756/Cabinet's-own-marriage-failures-force-retreat-on-traditional-wedlock.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301234129/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1314756/Cabinet's-own-marriage-failures-force-retreat-on-traditional-wedlock.html |archive-date=1 March 2009 |access-date= |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}} but was married to former journalist Margaret McQueen Vaughan from 1986 until his death; the couple had a son and a daughter. Margaret Vaughan worked for Radio Forth, the Daily Record and Glasgow Herald until Labour's election victory in 1997.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Zoe |date=February 22, 2010 |title=Don't mess with Maggie Darling |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/22/alistair-darling-maggie-darling-bullying |access-date=December 1, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623063426/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/feb/22/alistair-darling-maggie-darling-bullying |url-status=live }} Darling admitted to smoking cannabis in his youth.{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9368066/I-smoked-marijuana-admits-Chuka-Umunna.html | newspaper=The Daily Telegraph | first=Rowena | last=Mason | title=I smoked marijuana, admits Chuka Umunna | date=1 July 2012 | location=London | access-date=3 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228082936/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9368066/I-smoked-marijuana-admits-Chuka-Umunna.html | archive-date=28 December 2018 | url-status=live }} He enjoyed listening to Pink Floyd, Coldplay, Leonard Cohen and the Killers.{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2508042.ece | title=Alistair Darling: The man who stepped into limelight on the darkest of all Mondays | newspaper=The Times | location=London | date=22 September 2007 | access-date=25 March 2010 | first1=Helen | last1=Rumbelow | first2=Philip | last2=Webster | first3=James | last3=Harding | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716151420/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article2508042.ece | archive-date=16 July 2011 | url-status=dead }}

Darling suffered from cancer and died at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, on 30 November 2023, at the age of 70.{{cite news |title=Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown's Chancellor through the financial crisis who led the Scots 'No' campaign – obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/11/30/alistair-darling-chancellor-labour-scottish-independence/ |access-date=30 November 2023 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 November 2023 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130153108/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/11/30/alistair-darling-chancellor-labour-scottish-independence/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Shaw |first=Neil |date=30 November 2023 |title=Veteran Labour politician Alistair Darling has died, aged 70 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/veteran-labour-politician-alistair-darling-28202957 |access-date=30 November 2023 |work=Wales Online |archive-date=30 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231130131856/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/veteran-labour-politician-alistair-darling-28202957 |url-status=live }} There were widespread tributes from politicians from different political parties. Former prime minister Gordon Brown praised his "integrity" and "wise judgement".{{cite news |title=Former Chancellor Alistair Darling dies aged 70 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67578993 |access-date=1 December 2023 |publisher=BBC |archive-date=1 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201012240/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67578993 |url-status=live }} A memorial service for Darling at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh the following month was attended by many present and former political leaders, including Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George Osborne, Humza Yousaf and Sir Keir Starmer.{{cite news |last1=Vaughan |first1=Martha |title=Alistair Darling hailed as 'man of great integrity' at memorial service |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/national/24000210.alistair-darling-hailed-man-great-integrity-memorial-service/ |work=The Herald |date=19 December 2023 |location=Glasgow |page=3 |language=en}} Future Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves also paid tribute, saying that Darling had been a mentor to her.{{Cite news |last1=Stacey |first1=Kiran |last2=correspondent |first2=Kiran Stacey Political |date=2023-12-01 |title=Rachel Reeves: Alistair Darling warned me not to fall into 'Tory traps' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/01/rachel-reeves-alistair-darling-warning-tory-traps-labour |access-date=2024-07-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last=Darling

|first=Alistair

|title=Back from the Brink: 1,000 Days at Number 11

|publisher=Atlantic Books

|year=2011

|isbn=978-0857892799

}}

• {{cite book

|last=Torrance

|first=David

|title=The Scottish Secretaries

|publisher=Birlinn Publishers

|year=2006

|isbn=978-1-84158-476-8

}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikinews category}}

• [http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100407170909/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minprofile_darling.htm Rt Hon Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer] HM Treasury (archived)
• {{UK MP links | parliament = alistair-darling/596 | hansard = mr-alistair-darling | hansardcurr = 2841 | guardian = 1271/alistair-darling | publicwhip = Alistair_Darling | theywork = alistair_darling | record = Alistair-Darling/53 | bbc = 25690.stm | journalisted = alistair-darling }}
• [http://www.theukgovernment.com/alistair-darling---liar Kaupthing Controversy] theukgovernment.com
• {{Guardian topic}}
• [http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d7pp6 BBC Radio 4 Profile]
• [https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-darling-of-roulanish/596 Lord Darling of Roulanish]
• [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/alistairdarling Alistair Darling | Politics | The Guardian]
• {{C-SPAN|1000772}}

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