Former UK Chancellor Alistair Darling Dies At 70
Alistair Darling as Chancellor in 2009. (Source: 10 Downing Street)
Veteran Labour politician and former Chancellor Alistair Darling has died of cancer on Thursday at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
First elected to Parliament in 1987, he remained an MP for Edinburgh until he stood down in 2015. While he covered many roles in those years, including Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Secretary of State for Scotland, he is most known for his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis.
He implemented several measures aimed at stabilising the economy amidst the crisis. These included orchestrating the government’s response to the banking crisis by overseeing the rescue of major banks, and implementing fiscal stimulus measures to help boost the economy – including tax cuts, increased public spending, and measures to support businesses affected by the financial turmoil.
Alistair Darling also chaired the ‘Better Together’ campaign during the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum. The outcome saw voters opting to remain in the UK by a 10-point margin.
Paying Tribute
Commenting the news of his death, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was “deeply saddened”.
“I, like many relied on his wisdom, calmness in a crisis and his humour. I send my deepest condolences to his loving wife Maggie and their children Calum and Anna. He will be missed by all who knew him,” he wrote.
Current Labour leader Keir Starmer said, “Alistair lived a life devoted to public service. He will be remembered as the Chancellor whose calm expertise and honesty helped to guide Britain through the tumult of the global financial crisis.”
Starmer added, “I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have benefitted from Alistair’s counsel and friendship. He was always at hand to provide advice built on his decades of experience – always with his trademark wry, good humour.”
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