Alistair Darling to step down? Perhaps not…

The Sun reports this morning that Alistair Darling may step down at the next election, with the paper this morning quoting a “Senior Labour source” saying:

“Everyone expected Alistair to become Chancellor again if we win the next election. But he’s let it be known that he isn’t planning on standing at the next election. It’s a surprise, but it looks like he may already have made his mind up.”

Which sounds odd, as for starters few people who could genuinely be considered a “senior Labour source” would be caught dead speculating about future cabinet positions in a national newspaper two and a half years before an election.

Interestingly, there was a swift response in the Scotsman, with “friends of Mr Darling” denying that the former Chancellor had made any decisions:

“At some point in the next few months, all MPs will be asked by the party if they want to stand again. Alistair has not made any decision at the moment. This sounds like a Christmas party story.”

Quite…