Darling will stay – now to put him to use in the election

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Alistair Darling’s had a good war this month. Overcoming the “forces of hell” slip-up at the end of February, he’s ending March with reduced deficit projections, a sound budget, some favourable editorials, and now the promise from the PM that he’ll stay on as Chancellor should Labour remain in government after the election. It looks like the chancellor and the PM will, indeed, be sending each other Christmas cards again this year.

In an interview in Saturday’s Guardian, Brown says, in response to whether Darling would remain as chancellor with another Labour majority:

“Of course. He is doing a great job”.

And, as I tweeted tonight to our special guest editor for International Women’s Day earlier in the month, Darling should also be one of Labour’s most visible campaigners during the election. His quiet but steely attitude contrasts well with the shrill Osborne, who is trusted less and less to run the economy.