Darling snub to Scot role
BY DAVID CLEGG ALISTAIR Darling considered his job as Scottish secretary less important than running England’s transport system, files show.
The Labour heavyweight was appointed secretary of state for Scotland by Tony Blair in June 2003.
But Darling also continued as UK transport secretary, a role he had held since May the previous year.
Documents released today show he was candid with colleagues about the fact the transport brief would be his top priority.
Minutes of a Scottish cabinet meeting record details of a conversation Darling had with then first minister Jack McConnell about how he would approach the new role.
They read: “Mr Darling had said that the secretary of state for Scotland title remained.
“His focus, however, would be on transport, which he regarded as his primary job. He had made it clear he did not intend to do anything which could be done by the executive.
“Mr Darling was considering other activities that might be stopped or transferred to the executive, including the chair of the euro preparation committee.
“Mr Darling saw his role not as intervening in issues which could be resolved bilaterally by the executive with other UK government departments but rather as stepping in when asked by the executive to do so.”
The role of Scottish secretary changed dramatically after the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
The previous holder of the role, Helen Liddell, had faced criticism after details of her schedule revealed she had enough spare time to take French lessons.
Transport is devolved to Holyrood so Darling’s role as UK transport secretary had little importance here.