Alistair Darling 'a good man', mourners told

Alistair Darling died last month, aged 70

Alistair Darling was a serious and wise man of great integrity, mourners at his memorial service have heard.

Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves led tributes to the former chancellor at a service in Edinburgh.

It was attended by figures from across politics, including former prime ministers Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and First Minister Humza Yousaf.

Lord Darling died at the age of 70 last month following a stay in hospital where he was being treated for cancer.

A private cremation took place on Monday.

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Tuesday's service included tributes from Lord Darling's two children and a eulogy from his Labour colleague and close friend, Brian Wilson.

Mr Wilson described Lord Darling as a "serious man who dealt with serious things".

He was, he said: "A good man. A caring man, imbued with the genes of public service and social justice. A powerful combination."

Lord Darling's former colleague Brian Wilson read a eulogy to his friend

Ms Reeves said Lord Darling was a "wise mentor" and a "man of great integrity" and she praised the way he steered the UK economy through the 2008 economic crash.

"It was in that situation that the values that defined Alistair as a man and as a leader came to the fore. A model of calm, careful deliberation and strong instincts when all around him was so uncertain," she said.

"Those difficult months required courage, the willingness to listen to advice, the intellect to grasp it, the ability to act with swift, bold judgements when called upon and to take responsibility for those momentous decisions.

"That was Alistair Darling."

Those present at the service also included author JK Rowling, former Conservative Chancellor George Osborne and former cabinet colleagues Charles Clarke, Lord Mandelson and Baroness Helen Liddell.

Lord Darling's children, Anna and Calum, also read eulogies about their family life.

Alistair Darling served as a Labour MP between 1987 and 2015, first for Edinburgh Central and then for Edinburgh South West.

He served in Tony Blair's government as chief secretary to the Treasury before taking on the work and pensions brief in 1998.

He was appointed as transport secretary in 2002 and as Scotland secretary in 2003 before being appointed chancellor in 2007.

He also chaired the Better Together campaign to keep Scotland in the UK in the 2014 independence referendum.

Lord Darling is survived by his wife Maggie and his two children.