Alistair Darling

Friday

Alistair Darling

What is Alex Salmond’s plan for the currency now?

From our UK edition

Alex Salmond is now a man without a plan. He is offering Scots a future of uncertainty and instability. Threats of a debt default leaving Scotland and Scots with a bad credit rating. No idea which currency we would be transitioning to. By contrast if Scots want to know the benefit of remaining in the UK, they need only reach into their pockets and pull out a pound coin. We have one of the most trusted, secure currencies in the world. We have the financial back up of being part of one of the biggest economies in the world. The pound means more jobs, smaller mortgage repayments, cheaper credit card bills and lower prices in the supermarket. Why would we gamble that for an unknown currency? This morning’s interview with Alex Salmond on BBC Radio Scotland was instructive.

Tuesday

Alistair Darling

Alistair Darling: the flaws in Alex Salmond’s white paper on independence

From our UK edition

Nothing has changed as a result of today’s White Paper. There is nothing that we found out today that we didn’t already know. Yesterday Alex Salmond’s case for breaking up the UK was based on assertions. Today it is still based on assertions. The simple fact is that the nationalists have ducked the opportunity to answer any of the big questions about our country’s future. They promised us facts. What they have given us is a wish list with no prices attached. If this White Paper was going to be credible, it had to address the fundamental issues that people are concerned about. They didn’t. We still don’t know what currency we use if we vote to go it alone. We don’t know who would set our mortgage rates.

Saturday

Alistair Darling

Diary – 21 November 2009

From our UK edition

Not a bad way to start the political week, picking up the Threadneedle/Spectator Award for parliamentary survivor of the year. I don’t win many awards, of any variety. The last one I recall was six years ago when I was transport secretary. Some motoring magazine named me ‘Most Boring Politician in Britain’. (Two years in a row.) There was no prize, unlike at the Spectator awards where at least I picked up a rather beautiful etched black fruit bowl to console me. It is sure to remind me in my dotage of the turbulent and trying, but always rewarding, times at the Treasury. My wife pretends to be impressed. i am still in her good books for remembering our 23rd wedding anniversary — she phoned my diary secretary to thank her for remembering to remind me.