The safest of safe hands

Tributes to Scots Labour stalwart who fronted No campaign in independence referendum and quided the UK through financial crisis as chancellor

- PAUL HUTCHEON

FIGURES from across the political spectrum paid tribute last night after the death of Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor who led the No campaign during the independence referendum.

The veteran politician passed away two days after turning 70 after a short battle with cancer.

Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer led the tributes to a man who devoted decades of his life to public service.

Darling was an ever-present member of the Brown and Blair Labour governments.

MP in Edinburgh between 1987 and 2015, he held a raft of cabinet positions before becoming chancellor, where he won plaudits for the way he reacted to the global financial crash.

But it was his role in chairing the Better Together campaign that is likely to be his defining legacy.

He went up against Alex Salmond in live TV debates and led the No side to victory in 2014.

Brown said he was "deeply saddened" by Darling's death.

He added: "Alistair will be remembered as a statesman of unimpeachable integrity whose life was defined by a strong sense of social justice and who gained a global reputation for the assured competence and the exercise of considered judgment he brought to the handling of economic affairs.