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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Alistair Darling to stand down as MP | Alistair Darling to stand down as MP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Alistair Darling is to stand down as an MP at the next general election, it has been reported. | Alistair Darling is to stand down as an MP at the next general election, it has been reported. |
| The former Chancellor of Exchequer, 60, led the Better Together campaign against Scottish independence. | |
| The Labour MP told the FT newspaper that he wanted to step aside while he was still "relatively young". | The Labour MP told the FT newspaper that he wanted to step aside while he was still "relatively young". |
| And he spoke of his frustration that Labour had not used the "No" vote in the independence referendum as a springboard. | And he spoke of his frustration that Labour had not used the "No" vote in the independence referendum as a springboard. |
| Scottish Labour is currently seeking a new leader and deputy leader following the resignations of Johann Lamont and Anas Sarwar. | Scottish Labour is currently seeking a new leader and deputy leader following the resignations of Johann Lamont and Anas Sarwar. |
| Opinion polls | Opinion polls |
| Three candidates - the MP Jim Murphy and MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay - are standing to succeed Ms Lamont as leader, with Kezia Dugdale MSP and the MP Katy Clark vying to become deputy. | Three candidates - the MP Jim Murphy and MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay - are standing to succeed Ms Lamont as leader, with Kezia Dugdale MSP and the MP Katy Clark vying to become deputy. |
| Two recent opinion polls have suggested Labour is on track to lose the vast majority of its Scottish seats at Westminster to the SNP at the next general election. | Two recent opinion polls have suggested Labour is on track to lose the vast majority of its Scottish seats at Westminster to the SNP at the next general election. |
| Mr Darling, who represents the Edinburgh South West constituency, told the FT that he believed Mr Murphy was the right man to revive the party's fortunes north of the border. | Mr Darling, who represents the Edinburgh South West constituency, told the FT that he believed Mr Murphy was the right man to revive the party's fortunes north of the border. |
| But he was quoted as saying: "My frustration is that we actually won (the referendum). You can't say it often enough. We made the arguments, we had confidence in ourselves." | But he was quoted as saying: "My frustration is that we actually won (the referendum). You can't say it often enough. We made the arguments, we had confidence in ourselves." |
| He also said he was concerned that a second independence referendum would soon be held in Scotland unless Labour was able to halt the SNP advance. | He also said he was concerned that a second independence referendum would soon be held in Scotland unless Labour was able to halt the SNP advance. |
| 'Neverendum Land' | 'Neverendum Land' |
| Mr Darling added: "Most people in Scotland don't want to be living in Neverendum Land". | Mr Darling added: "Most people in Scotland don't want to be living in Neverendum Land". |
| And he said he hoped to use his experience as chairman of Better Together to help the campaign to keep the UK in the European Union in the event of a future referendum. | And he said he hoped to use his experience as chairman of Better Together to help the campaign to keep the UK in the European Union in the event of a future referendum. |
| Mr Darling entered the House of Commons in the 1987 general election. | Mr Darling entered the House of Commons in the 1987 general election. |
| He served as Secretary of State for Scotland between 2003 and 2006, having previously had responsibility for the transport, trade and industry and work and pensions portfolios. | He served as Secretary of State for Scotland between 2003 and 2006, having previously had responsibility for the transport, trade and industry and work and pensions portfolios. |
| He replaced Gordon Brown as Chancellor when Mr Brown became prime minister in June 2007, holding the post until Labour's general election defeat in May 2010. | He replaced Gordon Brown as Chancellor when Mr Brown became prime minister in June 2007, holding the post until Labour's general election defeat in May 2010. |