Alistair Darling, who served as chancellor under Gordon Brown, has died at the age of 70, his family has confirmed.

The Labour Party stalwart became a household name when the then-prime minister gave him the keys to the Treasury back in 2007 – running the department throughout the global banking crisis and staying in post until Mr Brown lost the election in 2010.

But he had been a presence in Tony Blair’s government from the start, beginning as chief secretary to the treasury in 1997 following Labour’s landslide victory, and going on to run a number of departments – including work and pensions, transport and trade.

His family confirmed the news on Thursday, calling him “the much-loved husband of Margaret and beloved father of Calum and Anna”.

He was a member of parliament from 1987 until he stepped down in 2015.

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