Alistair Darling MP was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer in June 2007 as part of Gordon Brown's first cabinet.

He was been a member of the Cabinet since Labour won office in 1997, holding the post of Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry from May 2006 to June 2007, and before that Secretary of State for Transport from May 2002 to May 2006 and Secretary of State for Scotland from 2003 to 2006.

Before this, Alistair was Secretary of State for the Department of Work and Pensions from June 2001 to May 2002; Secretary of State for Social Security between July 1998 and June 2001, and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from May 1997 to July 1998.

Prior to the 1997 election, he was the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July 1996 to April 1997, Opposition Spokesman on the City and Financial Services between 1992 and July 1996 and in the Opposition Home Affairs Team from 1988-92.

He was elected to Parliament for Edinburgh Central in 1987 and represented that seat until the boundary changes in 2005. Since then, he has represented the new seat of Edinburgh South West.

Previously, he was a member of Lothian Regional Council, and Chairman of the Council's Transport Committee.

Alistair went to Loretto School in Musselburgh, and studied law at Aberdeen University. He worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh before being called to the Scottish Bar and admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1984.

Alistair is married and has two children.