Secretary of State for Trade and Industry

 

 

 

 

Portfolio:

Overall responsibility for the Department of Trade and Industry.

Biography:

The Rt. Hon. Alistair Darling MP was appointed Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industry on 5 May 2006.

He was Secretary of State for Transport and Secretary of State for Scotland from 29 May 2002 to 5 May 2006. Earlier, Alistair Darling 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.

Alistair Darling 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.

Alistair Darling attended Loretto School, 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. He was elected Member of Parliament for Edinburgh Central in 1987.

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

Alistair Darling is married to Margaret Vaughan and has two children.