Darling speaks of Wendy 'respect'
The UK chancellor has spoken following a newspaper article quoting him
predicting economic doom and rounding on a former Scottish Labour
leader.
Alistair Darling spoke to the BBC to explain The Guardian interview in
which he said the UK faced the worst economic crisis in 60 years.
He also attempted to clarify a comment attributed to him that Wendy
Alexander was not a likeable person.
First Minister Alex Salmond has dubbed the newspaper article
"ridiculous"
The SNP leader said: "Scotland's economy is showing real resilience in
what are challenging times, and Mr Darling's ridiculous interview is in
danger of dragging everyone down to the Labour Party's own level - just
as his hesitation on stamp duty froze the housing market.
DARLING TV INTERVIEW
BT: "You are fairly rude in the Guardian about a couple of colleagues -
you think Wendy Alexander is unlikeable."
AD: "I have got the utmost admiration for Wendy and the problems she
went through."
BT: "But you don't like her very much?"
AD: "I didn't say that at all."
BT: "You said she's unlikeable - are they quoting you wrong?"
AD: "No, I have the utmost respect for her and I thoroughly enjoy her
encounters whenever we have them."
BT: "But you said she's unlikeable?"
AD: "No I didn't."
BT: "You didn't say that, The Guardian are misquoting you?"
AD: "Brian, I have the utmost regard for Wendy and I will continue to
have it and that remains my position."
"What is needed from Alistair Darling is action for economic recovery -
not words about economic depression."
Mr Darling told The Guardian's Weekend magazine that the economic
downturn would be more "profound and long-lasting" than most people had
feared.
He said that voters were "pissed off" with Labour's handling of the
economy, a key issue at the next election, and said it was "absolutely
imperative" that ministers communicated their intentions better.
But in a follow-up television interview with BBC Scotland's political
editor, Brian Taylor, Mr Darling said the UK faced a unique set of
circumstances.
He explained: "What is unprecedented in recent times is the coming
together of the unique set of circumstances where you have a profound
credit crunch - that's affecting every country in the world - and the
very high oil and rising food prices.
"Those two things have not come together at the same time and this is
what is affecting us, it's affecting every developed country."
But he added that the current government differed from past ones because
it was prepared to "take action to help the economy and to help people
get through this difficult time".
Mr Darling was also asked in the BBC interview why he called Ms
Alexander, who resigned from her post as Scottish Labour leader in July,
"not likeable at all".
The MP for Edinburgh South West repeated three times that he had the
"utmost admiration and respect" for Ms Alexander.
He told Brian Taylor: "I have got the utmost admiration for Wendy and
the problems she went through.
"I have the utmost respect for her and I thoroughly enjoy her encounters
whenever we have them.
"I have the utmost regard for Wendy and I will continue to have it and
that remains my position."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.
Published: 2008/08/30 13:36:44 GMT
Saturday, 30 August 2008
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