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The Right Honourable  Alistair Darling  MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Incumbent
Assumed office  28 June 2007
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Gordon Brown
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
In office 05 May 2006 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Alan Johnson
Succeeded by	John Hutton
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 13 June 2003 – 05 May 2006
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Helen Liddell
Succeeded by	Douglas Alexander
Secretary of State for Transport
In office 29 May 2002 – 05 May 2006
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Stephen Byers
Succeeded by	Douglas Alexander
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
In office 27 July 1998 – 29 May 2002
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Harriet Harman (Social Security)
Succeeded by	Andrew Smith
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office 03 May 1997 – 27 July 1998
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	William Waldegrave
Succeeded by	Stephen Byers
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West Edinburgh Central (1987 – 2005)
Incumbent
Assumed office  11 June 1987
Preceded by	Alexander MacPherson Fletcher
Majority	7,242 (16.5%)
Born	28 November 1953 (1953-11-28) (age 54) London, England, United Kingdom
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Margaret Vaughan
Residence	11 Downing Street
Alma mater	University of Aberdeen

Alistair Maclean Darling (born November 28, 1953) is a British politician and the current Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is Labour Party Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West in Scotland. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as or ) is an honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain people in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Anglophone Caribbean and in other Commonwealth Realms, and elsewhere. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 442 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1914 × 2598 pixel, file size: 350 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 178th day of the year (179th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... For other persons of the same name, see Alan Johnson (disambiguation). ... For other persons named John Hutton, see John Hutton (disambiguation). ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... is the 164th day of the year (165th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Helen Liddell (born December 6, 1950, in Coatbridge, Scotland) is a British politician, was M.P. for Monklands East, then for Airdrie and Shotts from 1994 to 2005, and is British High Commissioner to Australia. ... This article is about the British politician. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Stephen John Byers (born 13 April 1953) is a British politician. ... This article is about the British politician. ... The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 149th day of the year (150th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Harriet Ruth Harman, QC (born 30 July 1950) is a British solicitor (professional legal adviser) and Labour politician. ... The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... For other persons named Andrew Smith, see Andrew Smith (disambiguation). ... The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a junior position in the British Cabinet. ... May 3 is the 123rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (124th in leap years). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 208th day of the year (209th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... William Arthur Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC (born August 15, 1946), educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and now a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford is a British Conservative politician who served in the Cabinet from 1990 until 1997. ... Stephen John Byers (born 13 April 1953) is a British politician. ... Edinburgh South West is a constituency to be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Edinburgh Central is a constituency represented in the Scottish Parliament. ... Open seat redirects here. ... is the 162nd day of the year (163rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 1987. ... Sir Alexander MacPherson Fletcher (26 August 1929 - 16 September 1989) was a British Conservative Party politician. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... 11 Downing Street (commonly known as Number 11), is the official residence of the Second Lord of the Treasury, who in modern times has always been the British Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... For other uses, see Alma mater (disambiguation). ... The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland. ... is the 332nd day of the year (333rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... The Labour Party is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Edinburgh South West is a constituency to be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the country. ...

Early life

Darling was born in London, England,^[1] the son of a civil engineer, Thomas, and his wife, Anna. He is the great-nephew of Sir William Darling who was Conservative MP for Edinburgh South (1945–1957). He was educated in Kirkcaldy, and the private Loretto School, Musselburgh, East Lothian, then attended the University of Aberdeen where he was awarded a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B). He became the head of Aberdeen University Students Union. He became a solicitor in 1978, then changed course for the Scots bar and was admitted as an advocate in 1984. He was elected as a councillor to the Lothian Regional Council in 1982 and served until he was elected to Parliament. He was also a board member for the Lothian and Borders Police. He became a governor of Napier College in 1985 for two years. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Sir William Darling was the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Edinburgh South constituency from 1945–1957. ... , Kirkcaldy (IPA pronunciation: ) is the largest town in Fife, Scotland. ... Loretto School is an independent school in Scotland, founded in Musselburgh in 1827. ... Showing the Brunton Hall, from the west of the town Musselburgh is a town in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, six miles east of Edinburgh city centre. ... East Lothian (Lodainn an Ear in Gaelic) is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. ... The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland. ... LLB redirects here. ... A solicitor is a type of lawyer in many common law jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and in a few regions of the United States. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Lothian and Borders Police is the police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian. ... Napier University is a university in Edinburgh, Scotland. ...

Member of Parliament

He entered Parliament at the 1987 General Election in Edinburgh Central defeating the sitting Conservative MP Sir Alexander Fletcher by 2,262 votes, and has remained an MP since. Margaret Thatcher David Steel Election 1987 Titles The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987 and was the third consecutive victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. ... Edinburgh Central is a constituency represented in the Scottish Parliament. ... The Conservative Party, officially though less commonly known as the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a political party in the United Kingdom. ... Sir Alexander MacPherson Fletcher (26 August 1929 - 16 September 1989) was a British Conservative Party politician. ...

After the creation of the Scottish Parliament the number of Scottish seats at Westminster was reduced, his Edinburgh Central seat was abolished. Since the 2005 election he has represented Edinburgh South West. The Labour Party was so concerned that Darling might be defeated, several senior party figures, including Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Chancellor Gordon Brown, made supportive visits to the constituency during the election campaign. Despite being a senior Cabinet minister himself, Darling was hardly seen outside the area, as he was making the maximum effort to win his seat. In the event, he won it with a majority of 7,242 over the second-placed Conservative candidate, a 16.49% margin on a 65.4% turnout. For the national legislative body up to 1707, see Parliament of Scotland. ... This article is about the country. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... Edinburgh South West is a constituency to be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... A Deputy Prime Minister is a member of a nations cabinet who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the real Prime Minister is temporarily absent. ... For other persons named John Prescott, see John Prescott (disambiguation). ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Shadow Cabinet

As a backbencher he sponsored the Solicitors (Scotland) Act 1988 ^[2]. He soon became an Opposition Home Affairs spokesman in 1988 on the frontbench of Neil Kinnock. A backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition. ... The modern concept of Small Office and Home Office or SoHo , or Small or Home Office deals with the category of business which can be from 1 to 10 workers. ... Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock, PC (born 28 March 1942) is a British politician. ...

After the 1992 General Election he became a spokesman on Treasury Affairs until being promoted to Tony Blair's Shadow Cabinet as the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1996. Following the 1997 General Election he entered Cabinet as the Chief Secretary to the Treasury; he is one of only three people who have been in the Cabinet ever since (the others are Gordon Brown and Jack Straw). The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. ... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury, in full Her Majestys Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ... The Shadow Cabinet (also called the Shadow Front Bench) is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition (or the leader of other smaller opposition parties) form an alternative cabinet to the governments, whose... The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a junior position in the British Cabinet. ... The UK general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997. ... For other uses, see Jack Straw (disambiguation). ...

In Government

In 1998 he was made the Secretary of State for Social Security replacing Harriet Harman who had been dismissed. After the 2001 General Election, the department for Social Security was abolished and replaced with the new Department for Work and Pensions, which also took employment away from the education portfolio, Darling headed the new department until 2002 when he was transferred to the Department for Transport, in the wake of his predecessor Stephen Byers resigning after a great deal of criticism. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... Harriet Ruth Harman, QC (born 30 July 1950) is a British solicitor (professional legal adviser) and Labour politician. ... Tony Blair William Hague Charles Kennedy The UK general election, 2001 was held on 7 June 2001 and was dubbed the quiet landslide by the media. ... The Department for Work and Pensions is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom, created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and the Department of Social Security. ... In the United Kingdom, the Department for Transport is the government department responsible for the transport network. ... Stephen John Byers (born 13 April 1953) is a British politician. ...

As Transport Secretary, Darling was given a brief to "take the department out of the headlines" and was widely considered to have achieved this, although he was also criticised for achieving too little else whilst he held the transport brief. He oversaw the creation of Network Rail, the successor to Railtrack, which had collapsed in controversial circumstances for which his predecessor was largely blamed. He also procured the passage of the legislation - the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 - which abolished the Rail Regulator and replaced it with the Office of Rail Regulation. He was responsible for the Railways Act 2005 which abolished the Strategic Rail Authority, a creation of the Labour government under the Transport Act 2000. Darling was also responsible for the cancellation of several major Light Rail schemes. Network Rail is a British not for dividend company limited by guarantee whose principal asset is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a company limited by shares. ... For the generic term, see rail tracks. ... Legislation which abolished the statutory position of Rail Regulator and replaced it with a corporate board called the Office of Rail Regulation. ... Statutory office - created by section 1 of the Railways Act 1993 - for the independent economic regulation of the British railway industry. ... The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) is the UK governments agency for regulation of the countrys railway network. ... The Railways Act 2005 was a railway act in the United Kingdom. ... Categories: Stub ... The Transport Act 2000 is a current United Kingdom Act of Parliament External Links Transport Act 2002 Category: ... This article is about light rail systems in general. ...

Although he was not at the Department for Transport at the time of the collapse of Railtrack, Darling vigorously defended what had been done in a speech to the House of Commons on October 24, 2005. This included the making of threats to the independent Rail Regulator that if he intervened to defend the company against the government's attempts to force it into railway administration - a special status for insolvent railway companies - the government would introduce emergency legislation to take the regulator under direct political control. This stance by Darling surprised many observers because during his tenure at the Department for Transport he had made several statements to Parliament and the financial markets assuring them that the government regarded independence in economic regulation of the railways as essential. is the 297th day of the year (298th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

After the Scottish Office was folded into the Department for Constitutional Affairs, he was made Scottish Secretary in combination with his transport portfolio in 2003. In the Cabinet reshuffle of May 2006, he was moved to the position of Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Douglas Alexander replaced him as both Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland. On 10 November 2006 in a mini-reshuffle, Malcolm Wicks, the Minister for Energy at the Department for Trade and Industry and therefore one of Darling's junior ministers, was appointed Minister for Science. Darling took over day-to-day control of the Energy portfolio. Categories: Stub | Scotland | Departments of the United Kingdom Government ... The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is a United Kingdom government department. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office. ... The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... This article is about the British politician. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... Malcolm Hunt Wicks (born 1 July 1947, Hatfield) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ...

Chancellor of the Exchequer

In June 2007, the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed Darling Chancellor of the Exchequer, a promotion widely anticipated in the media. Journalists observed that three of Darling's four junior ministers at the Treasury (Angela Eagle, Jane Kennedy and Kitty Ussher) are female and dubbed his team, "Darling's Darlings".^[3] The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... The new eastern entrance to HM Treasury HM Treasury, in full Her Majestys Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the UK Governments financial and economic policy. ... Angela Eagle (born February 17, 1961 is Labour Member of Parliament for Wallasey. ... Jane Elizabeth Kennedy (born 4 May 1958, as Jane Elizabeth Hodgson) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. ... Kitty Ussher (born 18 March 1971, Aylesbury) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ...

In September 2007, for the first time since 1860, there was a run on a British bank, Northern Rock. Although the Bank of England and the Financial Services Authority have jurisdiction in such cases, ultimate authority for deciding on financial support for a bank in exceptional circumstances rests with the Chancellor. The 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis had caused a liquidity crisis in the UK banking industry, and Northern Rock was unable to borrow as required by its business model. Darling authorised the Bank of England to lend Northern Rock funds to cover its liabilities and provided an unqualified taxpayers’ guarantee of the deposits of savers in Northern Rock in an attempt to stop the run. Northern Rock borrowed up to £20 billion from the Bank of England^[4], and Darling was criticized for becoming sucked into a position where so much public money was tied up in a private company.^[5] On March 12, 2008, Darling gave his first Budget in the House of Commons. Northern Rock plc is a British bank, currently owned by the UK government. ... Headquarters Coordinates , , Governor Mervyn King Central Bank of United Kingdom Currency Pound sterling ISO 4217 Code GBP Base borrowing rate 5. ... 25 The North Collonade The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is an independent non-departmental public body and quasi-judicial body that regulates the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. ... The subprime mortgage financial crisis, is an ongoing financial crisis that has caused a sharp rise in home foreclosures. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive. ... Type Lower House Speaker Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since October 23, 2000 Leader Harriet Harman, (Labour) since June 28, 2007 Shadow Leader Theresa May, (Conservative) since May 5, 2005 Members 659 Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist Party Sinn Féin...

In March 2008, Alistair Darling became the first British Chancellor to be censured for the Budget by a media campaign spread by a social networking site. James Hughes, the landlord of Utopia Pub in Edinburgh, symbolically barred Darling from his pub, and a passing reporter from the Edinburgh Evening News ran the story. A Facebook group ^[6] was created, leading dozens of pubs across the UK to follow Hughes, barring Darling from their pubs. The story was eventually picked up by most national press and broadcast media in the UK, and leader of the opposition cited the movement at Prime Minister's Questions on 26 March. ^{[7][8][9][10]}

Darling is not a professional economist, nor has he any experience of business. But he has always been a loyal supporter of Gordon Brown, the prime minister. On Andrew Rawnsley's Channel Four programme on 9 June 2008 ("Gordon Brown: Where Did It All Go Wrong?"), Irwin Stelzer, a fellow of the Hudson Institute who knows Brown well, said: "Anyone who thinks Gordon Brown has given up being Chancellor doesn't know Gordon Brown. Alistair Darling is a man of some modest ability, but Gordon's, let's say, heavily involved in fiscal policy." Channel 4 is a television broadcaster in the United Kingdom (see British television). ... Irwin M. Stelzer (born 1932) is an American economist. ... The Hudson Institute is a right-leaning U.S. think tank, founded in 1961 in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, by the futurist Herman Kahn and other colleagues from the RAND Corporation. ...

Child benefit data scandal

Main article: 2007 UK child benefit data scandal

Darling was Chancellor when the personal and confidential details of over 25 million British citizens went missing while being sent from his department to the National Audit Office. A former Scotland Yard detective stated that with the current rate of £2.50 per person's details this data could have been sold for £60 million.[6] The acting leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable, put the value at £1.5bn, or £60 per identity.[7] The 2007 UK child benefit data misplacement occurred in October 2007, when two computer discs owned by Her Majestys Revenue and Customs containing data relating to child benefit went missing. ... The National Audit Office (NAO) is an independent Parliamentary body in the United Kingdom which is responsible for auditing central government departments, government agencies and non-departmental public bodies. ... The Liberal Democrats, often shortened to Lib Dems, is a liberal political party in the United Kingdom formed in 1988 by the merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party; the two parties had already been in an alliance for seven years prior to this, since not long... Vincent Cable Dr (John) Vincent Cable (born 9 May 1943, York) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and economist. ...

10p Tax Fiasco

Darling’s predecessor Gordon Brown before becoming prime minister in his final budget on 21st March 2007 axed the 10% starting rate of taxation whilst reducing basic rate income tax from 22% to 20%. Although the majority of tax payers would be marginally better off by these changes some 5.1 low earners including those earning less than £18,000 were worse off. On October 18th 2007 the Treasury releases figures showing that childless people on low incomes could lose up to £200 a year as a result of the changes, while parents and those earning more than £20,000 will be better off. For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ...

Increasing political backlash to the additional tax burden put immense pressure onto the government including the new chancellor Darling with Gordon Brown facing criticism from his own Parliamentary Labour party. On May 13th 2008 Mr Darling announces in the Commons that he will help low-paid workers hit by the scrapping of the 10p rate by raising this year's personal tax allowance by £600 funded by borrowing £2.7 billion^[11].

Personal life

Darling has been married to Margaret McQueen Vaughan (a former journalist on the former newspaper Sunday Standard) since 1986 and they have one son (Calum, born 1988, and studying law at the University of Aberdeen) and one daughter (Anna, born 1990). He had a previous marriage in the 1970s. The University of Aberdeen was founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland. ...

In his book Servants of the People, about New Labour's first term of office (1997-2001), Andrew Rawnsley described Darling as a "managerial technocrat" of a type preferred by former Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was voted Britain's most boring politician, and worst ever Chancellor two years running ^[12]. Andrew Nicholas James Rawnsley (born January 5, 1962) is a British political journalist and broadcaster. ...

On September 10, 2007, Alistair's pet cat Sybil moved from Edinburgh with the family to 11 Downing Street, Sybil was located to the 3-bedroomed flat above No. 11. She was named after Sybil Fawlty from the 1970s sitcom Fawlty Towers, sharing a thespian name with her predecessor Humphrey, who was named after Sir Humphrey Appleby in Yes Minister. is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Sybil is a cat living at 11 and 10 Downing Street. ... The toxic midget herself: Sybil Fawlty Sybil Fawlty is a fictional character from the hit BBC sitcom Fawlty Towers. ... Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom made by the BBC and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. ... Thespian may refer to: A citizen of the ancient Greek city of Thespiae An actor; this usage is derived from Thespis of Icaria, the legendary first actor. ... Humphrey (c. ... Sir Humphrey Appleby, on the left, giving directions to the Minister as usual Sir Humphrey Appleby is one of the three main characters of the 1980s British sitcom Yes, Minister and its sequel Yes, Prime Minister. ... Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC television and radio between 1980 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. ...

He enjoys listening to Pink Floyd, Coldplay and Leonard Cohen ^[13]. He lives in the Morningside area of Edinburgh, in the same street as JK Rowling. Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic or space rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. ... Coldplay are an English alternative rock band formed in London in 1997. ... Leonard Norman Cohen, CC, (born September 21, 1934 in Westmount, Quebec) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. ... Morningside is a famously genteel area in the south-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. ... Joanne Rowling OBE (born July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire), commonly known as J.K. Rowling (pronunciation: roll-ing; her former students used to joke with her name calling her the Rolling Stone), is a British fiction writer. ...

He is sometimes referred to in the media as "Ali D", in reference to Ali G.^{[citation needed]} Ali G (Alistair Leslie Graham) is a satirical fictional character invented and played by English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. ...

See also

• Cabinet of the United Kingdom

This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Bibliography

• Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)

References

External links

• 10 Downing Street — Alistair Darling official biography
• http://faultgame.com/images/ltbb_052.wav
• Cabinet Reshuffle News article
• Guardian Unlimited Politics — Ask Aristotle: Alistair Darling MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com — Alistair Darling MP
• Times profile - June 2007
• BBC Profile of Alistair Darling from 2006
• BBC Profile of Alistair Darling from 2002
• BBC Politics page
• Open Directory Project — Alistair Darling directory category

v • d • e Chancellors of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom Godfrey Giffard · Hervey de Stanton · William Catesby · John Bourchier, Baron Berners · John Baker · Walter Mildmay · John Fortescue of Salden · George Home · Julius Caesar · Fulke Greville · Richard Weston, Earl of Portland · Edward Barrett of Newburgh · Francis Cottington · John Colepeper · Edward Hyde, Earl of Clarendon · Anthony Ashley-Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury · John Duncombe · John Ernle · Henry Booth · Richard Hampden · Charles Montagu · John Smith · Henry Boyle · Robert Harley · Robert Benson · William Wyndam · Richard Onslow · Robert Walpole · James Stanhope · John Aislabie · John Pratt · Samuel Sandys · Henry Pelham · William Lee · Henry Bilson Legge · George Lyttelton · William Muarry, Earl of Mansfield · William Barrington · Francis Dashwood · George Grenville · William Dowdeswell · Charles Townshend · Frederick North · John Cavendish · William Pitt the Younger · Henry Addington · Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice · Spencer Perceval · Nicholas Vansittart · Frederick John Robinson · George Canning · Charles Abbott · John Charles Herries · Henry Goulburn · John Spencer · Thomas Denman · Robert Peel · Thomas Spring Rice, Baron Monteagle · Francis Baring · Henry Goulburn · Charles Wood · Benjamin Disraeli · William Gladstone · George Cornewall Lewis · George Ward Hunt · Robert Lowe · Stafford Northcote · Hugh Childers · Michael Hicks Beach · William Vernon Harcourt · Randolph Churchill · George Goschen · Charles Ritchie · Austen Chamberlain · H. H. Asquith · David Lloyd George · Reginald McKenna · Andrew Bonar Law · Robert Horne · Stanley Baldwin · Neville Chamberlain · Philip Snowden · Winston Churchill · John Simon · Kingsley Wood · John Anderson · Hugh Dalton · Stafford Cripps · Hugh Gaitskell · Rab Butler · Harold Macmillan · Peter Thorneycroft · Derick Heathcoat-Amory · Selwyn Lloyd · Reginald Maudling · James Callaghan · Roy Jenkins · Iain Macleod · Anthony Barber · Denis Healey · Geoffrey Howe · Nigel Lawson · John Major · Norman Lamont · Kenneth Clarke · Gordon Brown · Alistair Darling

v • d • e Great Offices of State of the United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown Type Bicameral Houses House of Commons House of Lords Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin MP Speaker of the House of Lords Hélène Hayman, PC Members 1377 (646 Commons, 731 Peers) Political groups Labour Party Conservative Party Liberal Democrats Scottish National Party Plaid Cymru Democratic Unionist... Sir Alexander MacPherson Fletcher (26 August 1929 - 16 September 1989) was a British Conservative Party politician. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Edinburgh Central is a constituency represented in the Scottish Parliament. ... Margaret Thatcher David Steel Election 1987 Titles The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987 and was the third consecutive victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Edinburgh South West is a constituency to be represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ... William Arthur Waldegrave, Baron Waldegrave of North Hill, PC (born August 15, 1946), educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford and now a fellow of All Souls College, Oxford is a British Conservative politician who served in the Cabinet from 1990 until 1997. ... The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is a junior position in the British Cabinet. ... Stephen John Byers (born 13 April 1953) is a British politician. ... Harriet Ruth Harman, QC (born 30 July 1950) is a British solicitor (professional legal adviser) and Labour politician. ... The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. ... For other persons named Andrew Smith, see Andrew Smith (disambiguation). ... Stephen John Byers (born 13 April 1953) is a British politician. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... This article is about the British politician. ... Helen Liddell (born December 6, 1950, in Coatbridge, Scotland) is a British politician, was M.P. for Monklands East, then for Airdrie and Shotts from 1994 to 2005, and is British High Commissioner to Australia. ... The Secretary of State for Scotland (Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba in Scottish Gaelic) is the chief minister in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilites for Scotland, at the head of the Scotland Office (formerly The Scottish Office). ... For other persons of the same name, see Alan Johnson (disambiguation). ... The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is a cabinet position in the United Kingdom government. ... For other persons named John Hutton, see John Hutton (disambiguation). ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... Arms of Bishop Giffard, used by Worcester Cathedral Godfrey Giffard (c. ... Hervey de Stanton (12??-13??) was a Chancellor of the Exechequer to King Edward II. He also was a founder of Michaelhouse College at the University of Cambridge, one of the predecessors to Trinity College, Cambridge. ... Sir William Catesby (1450-1485) was a prominent member of the group that supported Richard III of England during his brief reign. ... John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners (1467 - 1553) was a translator, born at Sherfield, Herts and educated at Oxford, held various offices of state, including that of Chancellor of the Exchequer to Henry VIII., and Lieutenant of Calais, where he died He translated, at the Kings desire, Froissarts Chronicles... John Baker was the first Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... Sir Walter Mildmay was Chancellor of the Exchequer under Queen Elizabeth I of England. ... John Fortescue Sir John Fortescue of Salden (c. ... George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar, Knight of the Garter (died 1612). ... Sir Julius Caesar (1557/58 - 18 April 1636), was an English judge and politician. ... Edmund Lodge: Portrait of Sir Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke (1554-1628). ... Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland, was born in 1577, at Roxwell in Essex, England, eldest son and heir of Sir Hierome Weston, High Sheriff of Essex, and Mary Cave. ... Edward Barrett, 1st Lord Barrett of Newburgh, PC (21 June 1581-buried 2 January 1645) was an English politician. ... Francis Cottington, 1st Baron Cottington (ca. ... John Colepeper, 1st Baron Colepeper (d. ... Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon (18 February 1609–9 December 1674) was an English historian, statesman and grandfather of two queens regnant, Mary II and Anne. ... A rough picture of Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (July 22, 1621 – January 21, 1683) was a prominent English politician of the Interregnum and during the reign of King Charles II. Cooper, born in the county of Dorset, suffered the death of both... Sir John Duncombe (1622-1687) was the Chancellor of the Exchequer from 22 November 1672 - 2 May 1676. ... Sir John Ernle (1620 –1697) was Chancellor of the Exchequer of England from May 2, 1676 - April 9, 1689. ... Henry Booth (January 13, 1651—January 2, 1694) was the son of George Booth, Baron Delamer. ... Richard Hampden (1631 - 1695) was an English Whig politician and son John Hampden. ... Charles Montagu, 1st Earl of Halifax (April 16, 1661 - May 19, 1715) was Chancellor of the Exchequer, poet, statesman, and Earl of Halifax. ... John Smith (1655/6 - 1723) was an English politician, twice serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... Henry Boyle, 1st Baron Carleton (12 July 1669 - 31 March 1725) was a British politician of the early eighteenth century. ... Lord Oxford Robert Harley, 1st Earl of Oxford and Earl Mortimer (5 December 1661 – 21 May 1724), was an English statesman of the Stuart and early Georgian periods. ... Robert Benson, later Baron Bingley (circa 1676 — April 9, 1731) was an English politician of the 18th century. ... Sir William Wyndham, 3rd Baronet (1687 - June 17, 1740), English politician, was the only son of Sir Edward Wyndham, Bart. ... Sir Richard Onslow, (June 23, 1654 – December 5, 1717), was a British Whig member of parliament. ... For other persons named Robert Walpole, see Robert Walpole (disambiguation). ... James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope (c. ... John Aislabie (December 4, 1670- June 18, 1742) was a British politician, notable for his involvement in the South Sea Bubble and for creating the water garden at Studley Royal. ... Sir John Pratt (1657 - 1725) was a British judge and politician. ... Samuel Sandys, 1st Baron Sandys (1695-1770) was a British politician in the 18th century. ... The Right Honourable Henry Pelham (25 September 1694–6 March 1754) was a British Whig statesman, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 27 August 1743 to his death about ten years later. ... Sir William Lee (1688 - 1754-04-08) was a British jurist and politician. ... Henry Bilson-Legge (29 May 1708 - 23 August 1764) was an English statesman. ... George Lyttelton, 1st Baron Lyttelton PC (January 17, 1709 – August 24, 1773), known as Sir George Lyttelton, Baronet between 1751 and 1756, was a British politician and statesman and a patron of the arts. ... William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield (March 2, 1705 - March 20, 1793), was a British judge and politician who reached high office in the House of Lords. ... William Wildman Shute Barrington, 2nd Viscount Barrington (January 5, 1717 – February 1, 1793), eldest son of the 1st Viscount Barrington. ... Francis Dashwood, 15th Baron le Despencer (December, 1708 - December 11, 1781) was an English rake and politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1762-1763) and founder of The Hellfire Club. ... George Grenville (14 October 1712 – 13 November 1770) was a British Whig statesman who served in government for the relatively short period of seven years, reaching the position of Prime Minister of Great Britain. ... William Dowdeswell (1721 - February 6, 1775) was an English politician. ... This page is on the former Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... Frederick North, 2nd Earl of Guilford, KG, PC (13 April 1732 – 5 August 1792), more often known by his courtesy title, Lord North, which he used from 1752 until 1790, was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782, and a major actor in the American Revolution. ... Lord John Cavendish (1734-1796) was an English politician. ... William Pitt the Younger (28 May 1759 – 23 January 1806) was a British politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. ... The Right Honourable Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC (30 May 1757–15 February 1844) was a British statesman, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804. ... Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne (1780-1863), Son of the 1st Marquess by his second marriage, was born on 2 July 1780 and educated at Edinburgh University and at Trinity College, Cambridge. ... Spencer Perceval (1 November 1762 – 11 May 1812) was a British statesman and Prime Minister. ... Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley (29 April 1766-8 February 1851), English politician, was the fifth son of Henry Vansittart (d. ... The Right Honourable Frederick John Robinson, 1st Earl of Ripon PC (November 1, 1782 – January 28, 1859), Frederick John Robinson until 1827, The Viscount Goderich 1827–1833, and The Earl of Ripon 1833 onwards, was a British statesman and Prime Minister (when he was known as Lord Goderich). ... George Canning (11 April 1770 – 8 August 1827) was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and, briefly, Prime Minister. ... Charles Abbot, 1st Baron Tenterden (7 October 1762 - 4 November 1832), Lord Chief Justice, Kings Bench, was born at Canterbury, his father having been a hairdresser and wigmaker of the town. ... John Charles Herries (1778 - 1855) was an English politician and financier and a frequent member of Tory and Conservative cabinets in the early to mid 19th century. ... Henry Goulburn (1784–1856) was an English statesman and a member of the Peelite faction after 1846. ... John Charles Spencer, 3rd Earl Spencer (1782-1845), known during his fathers lifetime by his courtesy title Viscount Althorp, was an English statesman. ... Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman (23 July 1779 - 26 September 1854), English judge, was born in London, the son of a well-known physician. ... For other people named Robert Peel, see Robert Peel (disambiguation). ... Thomas Spring Rice, 1st Baron Monteagle of Brandon, PC, FRS (8 February 1790-7 February 1866) was a British Whig politician. ... Francis Thornhill Baring, 1st Baron Northbrook (1796–1866) was a British Whig politician who served in the governments of Lord Melbourne and Lord John Russell. ... Henry Goulburn (1784–1856) was an English statesman and a member of the Peelite faction after 1846. ... Charles Wood, 1st Viscount Halifax (1800–1885), known between 1846 and 1866 as Sir Charles Wood, Bt, was an English politician. ... Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (December 21, 1804 - April 24, British Conservative Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and author. ... Gladstone redirects here. ... Sir George Cornewall Lewis, 2nd Baronet (1806-1863), British statesman and man of letters, was born in London on 21 April 1806. ... The Rt Hon. ... A sketch portrait of Robert Lowe Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke (December 4, 1811 - July 27, 1892), British statesman, was born at Bingham, Nottinghamshire, where his father was the rector. ... The Rt Hon. ... Caricature from Punch, 1882 Hugh Culling Eardley Childers (June 25, 1827 - January 29, 1896) was a British and Australian Liberal statesman of the nineteenth century. ... The Rt Hon. ... Sir William Harcourt Sir William George Granville Venables Vernon Harcourt (October 14, 1827 - October 1, 1904) was a British Liberal statesman. ... Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill Lord Randolph Henry Spencer-Churchill (13 February 1849 – 24 January 1895) was a British statesman. ... George Joachim Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen (10 August 1831 – 7 February 1907) was a British statesman and businessman ironically best remembered for being forgotten by Lord Randolph Churchill. ... Charles Thomson Ritchie, by Carlo Pellegrini, 1885. ... Sir Joseph Austen Chamberlain, KG (October 16, 1863 – March 17, 1937) was a British statesman, politician, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. ... Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC (12 September 1852 – 15 February 1928) served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. ... David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor, OM, PC (17 January 1863 – 26 March 1945) was a British statesman who was Prime Minister throughout the latter half of World War I and the first four years of the subsequent peace. ... Cover of Time Magazine (March 3, 1924) Reginald McKenna (1863-1943) was a Liberal British statesman who has recently achieved a limmited amount of noteriety following a recent biography by disgraced heart-throb and former Tory MP Martin Farr. ... Andrew Bonar Law (16 September 1858 – 30 October 1923) was a British Conservative Party statesman and Prime Minister. ... Half Measures Sir Robert Horne, President of the Board of Trade, and Sir Eric Geddes, Minister of Transport (speaking together). ... Stanley Baldwin, 1st Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, KG, PC (3 August 1867 – 14 December 1947) was a British statesman and thrice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the British Prime Minister. ... Philip Snowden, 1st Viscount Snowden (July 18, 1864 - May 15, 1937) was a British politician, and the first Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer. ... Churchill redirects here. ... John Allsebrook Simon, 1st Viscount Simon GCSI GCVO OBE PC (1873-1954) was a British politician and statesman. ... Sir Howard Kingsley Wood (19 August 1891 - 21 September 1943) was a Conservative British politician. ... John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley of Westdean (8 July 1882 – 4 January 1958) was a British statesman. ... Edward Hugh John Neale Dalton, Baron Dalton PC , generally known as Hugh Dalton (26 August 1887 – 13 February 1962) was a British Labour Party politician, and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1945 to 1947. ... Sir Richard Stafford Cripps (24 April 1889 – 21 April 1952) was a British Labour politician and Chancellor of the Exchequer for several years after the Second World War. ... Hugh Todd Naylor Gaitskell (April 9, 1906 – January 18, 1963) was a British politician, leader of the Labour Party from 1955 until his death in 1963. ... Richard Austen Butler, Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, KG, CH, PC, DL (9 December 1902 – 8 March 1982), who invariably signed his name R. A. Butler and was familiarly known as Rab, was a British Conservative politician. ... Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986), was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... George Edward Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft CH PC (26 July 1909–4 June 1994), was a British Conservative politician. ... Derick Heathcoat-Amory, 1st Viscount Amory (26 December 1899 - 20 January 1981) was a British Conservative politician. ... John Selwyn Brooke Lloyd, Baron Selwyn-Lloyd (28 July 1904 - 18 May 1978), known for most of his career as Selwyn Lloyd, was a British Conservative politician. ... Rt. ... Leonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff, KG, PC (27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005), was Labour Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979. ... Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, OM, PC (November 11, 1920 – January 5, 2003) was a British politician and a prominent Labour Member of Parliament in the 1960s and 1970s, and founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). ... Iain Norman Macleod, PC (11 November 1913 – 20 July 1970) was a British Conservative Party politician and government minister. ... Anthony Barber, interviewed as the results of the 1970 general election are declared The Right Honourable Anthony Perrinott Lysberg Barber, Baron Barber, PC (4 July 1920 – 16 December 2005), was a British Conservative politician who served as a member of both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. ... Denis Winston Healey, Baron Healey, CH, MBE, PC (born 30 August 1917), is a British Labour politician. ... Richard Edward Geoffrey Howe, Baron Howe of Aberavon, CH, PC, QC (born 20 December 1926), known until 1992 as Sir Geoffrey Howe, is a senior British Conservative politician. ... Nigel Lawson, Baron Lawson of Blaby, PC (born March 11, 1932), was a British politician, Chancellor of the Exchequer between June 1983 and October 1989. ... For other persons named John Major, see John Major (disambiguation). ... Norman Stewart Hughson Lamont, Baron Lamont of Lerwick, PC (born 8 May 1942) was Conservative Member of Parliament for Kingston-upon-Thames, England from 1972 until 1997. ... This article is about Kenneth Clarke, the English politician. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... Image File history File links Her_Majesty's_Government_Coat_of_Arms. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... For others with the same or similar names, see Gordon Brown (disambiguation). ... Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister responsible for all economic and financial matters. ... Foreign Secretary David Miliband The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (commonly referred to as Foreign Secretary) is a member of the British Government responsible for relations with foreign countries, heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (often called simply the Foreign Office). ... David Wright Miliband (born 15 July 1965) is a British politician who is the current Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs[1] and Member of Parliament for the constituency of South Shields, Tyne and Wear. ... Home Secretary Jacqui Smith The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... Jacqueline Jill Smith (born 3 November 1962) is a British politician who has been Home Secretary since 28 June 2007 and is the current Member of Parliament for Redditch, since 1997. ...

v • d • e Brown Cabinet Alexander · Ashton · Balls · Benn · Blears · Brown · Browne · Burnham · Cooper · Darling · Denham · Harman · Hoon · Hutton · Johnson · Kelly · D. Miliband · E. Miliband · Murphy · Purnell · J. Smith · Straw · Woodward In attendance: Austin · Flint · Hughes · Jowell · Malloch-Brown · Royall · Scotland · A. Smith

v • d • e Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions of the United Kingdom Ministers of Pensions Barnes · Hodge · Worthington-Evans · Macpherson · Tryon · Roberts · Tryon · Roberts · Tryon · Hudson · Ramsbotham · Womersley · Paling · Hynd · Buchanan · Marquand · Isaaca · Heathcoat-Amory Ministers of Social Insurance/National Insurance Jowitt · Hore-Belisha · Griffiths · Summerskill · Peake Ministers of Pensions and National Insurance Peake · Boyd-Carpenter · Macpherson · Wood · Herbison Ministers of Social Security Herbison · Hart Secretaries of State for Social Services Crossman · Joseph · Castle · Ennals · Jenkin · Fowler · Moore Secretaries of State for Social Security Moore · Newton · Lilley · Harman · Darling Secretaries of State for Work and Pensions Darling · Smith · Johnson · Blunkett · Hutton · Hain · Purnell