The Staggers: Alistair Darling

Those who have yet to buy a copy of Alistair Darling's book on his time with the Great Sulk should rush out and get one, because it is the only way to make sense of the farce that was the first Prime Minister's Questions since MPs took themselves off in July for their several holidays.

With the economy on its uppers, inflation on the increase and growth shrinking, we all knew ... read more

Of all the claims from Alistair Darling's memoir (£), it is his assertion that Labour went into the last election without a "credible economic policy" that is most damaging for the party. Darling all but accuses Gordon Brown of deficit denial for refusing to accept the level of cuts and tax rises needed to ensure fiscal sustainability. Christmas has come early for George Osborne.

Darling told ... read more

More extracts from Alistair Darling's memoir, due out next Wednesday, have leaked onto Labour Uncut, and today we get his view of Fred Goodwin and co. "My worry," writes Darling, "was that they (the bankers) were so arrogant and stupid that they might bring us all down".

The former chancellor reportedly lambasts Goodwin's response to the crisis as that of someone ... read more

A story that has received considerable coverage this morning is Alistair Darling's admission that, even under Labour, drastic public spending cuts will be necessary.

Asked by the BBC how this government's cuts would compare to Margaret Thatcher's in the 1980s, he said:

They will be deeper and tougher.

Where we make the precise comparison, I think, is secondary to an acknowledgement that these reductions will be tough.

But, hang ... read more

As Alistair Darling prepares to battle his way across a picket line to deliver the Budget, what new information can we expect on tax rises and spending cuts?

The huge cuts to public spending (£38bn) needed to halve the deficit by 2013-2014 won't be unveiled until after the election, and ministers insist that previously announced tax rises will raise £19bn in new revenue.

But last week Peter Mandelson broke ranks ... read more

Here is the Tories' latest poster, an apparent attempt to exploit Alistair Darling's "forces of hell" remark. It's true to say that voters hate divided parties, but I can't see this particular attack working.

First, while the Chancellor's frank interview with Sky News's Jeff Randall fascinated the Westminster village, it had little impact elsewhere. Most voters don't even recognise Darling.

Second, as the ... read more