Crunchtime for Darling
Peter Hoskin 9:04am
Oh dear. The pressure really is on Alistair Darling now. After the revelations about his serial flipping, today's Telegraph flags up another potential misdemenour on the Chancellor's part: that he claimed parliamentary expenses on a south London flat which he rented out, while also claiming second home allowances for his grace-and-favour properties. Not only does this look plain bad for a minister who is supposed to be guiding the country through a recession, but - as the Telegraph puts it - it "would appear to contravene parliamentary rules that allow MPs to claim on only one property at a time."
The spotlight now falls on Gordon Brown. What will he do with his Chancellor, especially if it's the case that rules have been broken? In an odd way, the situation is probably helpful and unhelpful for the Dear Leader. Helpful, in that it could pave the way for Darling to be moved from the Treasury and replaced by Ed Balls; meeting - in the most perverse possible fashion - Lib Dem calls for the current Chancellor to get the heave-ho. Unhelpful, in that a dying government could well do without its Chancellor getting caught up in controversy; and that ditching him could set a dangerous precedent over what to do with all those other ministers who have enviable, taxpayer-funded property portfolios.
Overall, though, you have to say that this is almost as damaging for the government as it is for Darling himself. And the idea of Balls stepping into the breach is hardly going to stem Brown's slide towards political oblivion.
So far, Brown seems to be standing by his man in No.11. In an interview on Today this morning, he said that Darling has been a "very good Chancellor, and a very good friend"; adding that: "I don't think there's substance in these allegations." But will he be singing a similar tune after this week's elections? We shall see.
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witteringsfromwitney
June 1st, 2009 9:15am Report this commentOne immediate question:
There was no system whereby the Fees Office could/did check that the 'second home' was in fact a 'second home'?
Unbelievable!
Rob C
June 1st, 2009 9:30am Report this commentNote choice of words in the comments from Brown 'has been' rather than 'is' - I suspect he's already packing...
In the absence of a general election however, I'm not sure we should see this as a good thing as Darling is the closest thing Labour seems to have to the 'fiscal restraint' the country so desperately needs!
Liz Brown
June 1st, 2009 9:52am Report this commentoh what a ballsup.......(snigger!)
John Page
June 1st, 2009 10:03am Report this commentThe BBC reports that he's promised to repay part of the service charge for the flat - which he should never have claimed in the first place.
This after Brown had backed him.
Could be a significant breach in the Darling moral wall.
Paul B
June 1st, 2009 10:07am Report this commentI get the impression, that the timing of this pressure on Darling, is all very convenient for Brown. I read his words words, in the same way as Premiership football managers read statements of support from their board of directors. Start packing Alistair
john miller
June 1st, 2009 10:14am Report this commentI think the top-level source of yesterday has been chatting to his pal at the DT.
A.F
June 1st, 2009 10:24am Report this commentsurely if he was renting the property at the time it couldn't possibly be concidered his home.It became a part of his investment portfolio.
Queen John II
June 1st, 2009 10:27am Report this commentOh that's just sweet isn't it Darling?
James J
June 1st, 2009 10:28am Report this commentI’m sure I once saw a picture of Alistair Darling in his long haired left wing student radical days---you have to laugh.
obangobang
June 1st, 2009 10:33am Report this comment"Crunchtime for Darling"
Could this be the title song from the show within a show in an updated version of "The Producers"?
The Huntsman
June 1st, 2009 10:36am Report this commentFirst thing this morning, Darling's spinners stated that the DT's allegations were, in effect, an outrageous lie and without any foundation.
Now, just a few hours later, Darling has said he is going to repay the service charge for the flat that he claimed when also being supported by the Taxpayer in No 11 Downing Street.
The statement put out earlier on his behalf (and presumably with his knowledge and authority) is now, therefore, acknowledged to be no more than a brass-necked, bare-faced, blatant, bright shining lie.
How can the British people be asked to place any further confidence or trust in a man who is so thoroughly dishonest and corrupt?
He should be sacked forthwith and be forced to stand down. He has ceased to be a fit and proper person to hold public office of any sort.
TrevorsDen
June 1st, 2009 10:48am Report this commentThe Guardian is saying that Brown is saying that there 'is no foundation' to the story.
I think Darlings previous misdemeanours are bad enough. If I am unhappy about the way Telegraph headlines do not match up with the truth about Tory MPs I am not going to rush to judgement about Darling.
Given the Telegraph editor is a mate of the man who will benefit from Darling being dumped I am suspicious.
The plain fact is if this story is true then Darling should be in jail - does Darling strike you as that sort?
Indeed the Guardian goes to the trouble of putting Darlings side of the story, ie he flipped his house at least once due to having to comply with rules.
These rules may be barmy, Darling may still have been playing the property game --- but --- BUT ! --- if we are going to throw people out of their job we should do it on the basis of truth.
I am far from sure the Telegraph is peddling the truth, more like innuendo, which for a paper of its alleged reputation is pretty shameful.
DavidH
June 1st, 2009 11:12am Report this commentWhat tense is "has been"?
TrevorsDen
June 1st, 2009 11:36am Report this commentI see Darling has agreed to pay back £700 pounds of his claim.
Personally I cannot get too worked up about this one - though as a Tory I am delighted at Labours embarrassment (especially haver all their smearing of Tories). There was an overlap and its plausible to get confusion.
It makes him look a berk - I'm happy for that.
carol
June 1st, 2009 3:56pm Report this commentHe'll be out by Friday night.
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