Darling refuses to talk on position but underlines focus on electoral reform

BRITISH chancellor Alastair Darling refused to speculate on either his or home secretary Jacqui Smith’s position yesterday, saying only there had been an “extremely long and useful” discussion in the government on electoralreform.

The chancellor said the whole cabinet was “totally focused” on working to help the economy out of “one of the deepest downturns we’ve seen in generations”.

Speaking after meeting business leaders at Nationwide building society’s headquarters in Swindon, the chancellor said: “What they want to get across is: yes, times are tough but they are getting through it and with government support we can make a real difference and we are determined to do that.”