A memorial service is scheduled to take place in Edinburgh for former Chancellor Alistair Darling who died in November aged 70 after being ill for a short while. The ceremony is set to be attended by various high-profile members of the political world including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and the First Minister of Scotland – Humza Yousaf. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will also be present at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Edinburgh to pay their last respects to the former MP.
Darling was responsible for navigating the UK’s economy through the 2008 financial crisis and also led the Better Together campaign in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. The memorial service will feature readings from Lord Darling’s children along with a piper’s lament, honoring the former Chancellor. A choir will perform hymns including Love Divine, In The Bleak Midwinter, and Jerusalem.
Lord Darling died on 30th November following a stay in hospital where he was receiving treatment for cancer. A private cremation was conducted on Monday. He was the Labour MP for Edinburgh Central and Edinburgh South West for almost 30 years, representing his constituency from 1987 until 2015. Lord Darling received numerous tributes from people from all political perspectives following his death.
Describing him as a “statesman of unimpeachable integrity whose life was defined by a strong sense of social justice”, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown praised Darling for his calm handling of the 2008 financial crisis. Brown added that he relied on Darling’s wisdom, calmness, and humor during difficult times. Lord Darling chaired Scotland’s Better Together campaign, which prevented the country from splitting from the UK during the 2014 independence referendum. His death prompted an outpouring of tributes from politicians at both national and local levels
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