Darling, Alistair Maclean (1953– )

British Labour politician and lawyer, secretary of state for trade and industry from 2006. A low-profile but dependable ‘Brownite’ with an acute legal brain, he held a succession of key posts in the Labour government from 1997. He was chief secretary to the Treasury 1997–98, secretary of state for social security 1998–2001, work and pensions secretary 2001–02, and transport secretary 2002–06, where his brief was to take transport out of the headlines – something he succeeded in doing. He also served as secretary of state for Scotland 2003–2006.

Born in London, Darling was educated in Scotland, graduating in law at the University of Aberdeen. He worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh from 1978 and was called to the Scottish bar in 1984. Active in local politics, he chaired the Lothian Regional Transport Committee 1986–87 before being elected to the House of Commons in 1987, representing Edinburgh Central. He was Opposition spokesperson on home affairs 1988–92 and on the Treasury, economic affairs, and the City 1992–96, and as shadow chief secretary to the Treasury 1996–97. From 2005 he has represented the seat of Edinburgh South West.