A statement issued on behalf of Lord Darling’s family said: “The death of Alistair Darling, a former chancellor of the Exchequer and long-serving member of the Labour Cabinet, was announced in Edinburgh.
“Mr Darling, the much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna, died after a short spell in Western General Hospital under the wonderful care of the cancer team.”
Lord Darling was born in London and educated at Loretto School in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, before studying law at the University of Aberdeen.
He became known for hard-Left views during his student days and after he was elected as a Labour councillor in the former Lothian Regional Council, but he was a keen supporter of the efforts by Sir Tony and Mr Brown to modernise the party following his election as an MP five years later.
Following the Labour landslide in 1997, he was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury then replaced Harriet Harman as social security secretary.
Mr Brown appointed Lord Darling as chancellor when he became prime minister in June 2007, and his near three-year tenure coincided with one of the greatest economic crises to hit the UK.
He later recalled that the “scariest” moment was when the Royal Bank of Scotland, then one of the world’s largest banks, called to tell him it would run out of money that afternoon. He ended up nationalising the bulk of British banking to prevent the collapse of the financial system.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
