A statement issued in Edinburgh on behalf of Darling's family said: "Alistair 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." An Edinburgh MP from 1987 until he stepped down from parliament in 2015, Darling served as chancellor under Gordon Brown from 2007 to 2010. Former colleagues and political rivals praised his personal decency and unflappable calm.
Tony Blair, in whose governments Darling held several senior cabinet roles, said: "Alistair Darling was a rarity in politics. I never met anyone who didn't like him. He was highly capable, though modest, understated but never to be underestimated, always kind and dignified even under the intense pressure politics can generate. He was the safest of safe hands."
Brown, who picked Darling to succeed him as chancellor, called him "a statesman of unimpeachable integrity whose life was defined by a strong sense of social justice".
The Conservative former prime minister David Cameron said: "Alistair was a thoroughly kind and decent man. Despite us representing opposing parties, I always valued his immense contribution and enjoyed working with him too."
This story is from the December 01, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 01, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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