Darling’s job dangles by a thread
By politics.co.uk staff
Alistair Darling is fighting for his political life today as the prime minister refused to confirm he would remain chancellor after next week’s reshuffle.
Speaking about Mr Darling and communities secretary Hazel Blears, Gordon Brown said: “They are doing a good job but I am not going to make any predictions about anything that is going to happen in the next week.”
Mr Darling appeared resigned to his fate yesterday, speaking about his job in the past tense.
“I have tried to behave properly, to do the right thing, the proper thing, throughout my time as a member of parliament and as a minister,” he said.
Bookmakers William Hill closed the books on whether the former transport secretary could remain in his post today, after a flurry of bets against him.
“We were 9/4 for him to go at the weekend, then 7/4 at the start of the week but have now closed the market,” William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe said.
Mr Brown is expected to make a wide-ranging reshuffle early next week to draw a line under what are expected to be damning results from the local and European elections this Thursday.
Local election results will come in from Thursday night onwards, at the earliest, but European results will become clear on Sunday night.
Mr Darling claimed for a £1,000 service charge on a flat he moved out of shortly afterwards, when becoming chancellor.
He has repaid £668 of his own advance payment but the demands for him to go have not died down.
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vince Cable stressed the chancellor had to be “regarded with moral authority, not just operating within technical rules”.
He added: “I don’t think the chancellor is in that position”.
Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown had to either “back him or sack him”.
“It can;t go on like this,” he continued.
There are strong reports Mr Darling will be replaced with Ed Balls, currently schools secretary, during the reshuffle.
