Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown at loggerheads again
It is reported Alistair Darling has had a number of furious disagreements with Gordon Brown regarding the UK budget deficit and how it should be tackled. It is believed Alistair Darling is in favour of directing income from short-term economic growth in the UK towards tackling the budget deficit, while Gordon Brown seems adamant that growing income should be directed towards investment in public services. This is an issue which has seen these two former friends at loggerheads for some time and has in many ways caused a significant rift within the Labour Party.
It is a very difficult situation for both men because they have different agendas with Alistair Darling under pressure to attack the budget deficit, and Gordon Brown looking to win the next election. If the rumours in Westminster are correct it looks as though Gordon Brown has had the upper hand over the last few months with many believing Alistair Darling wanted to publish a detailed strategy for reducing the budget deficit in the last budget report. However, it appears that he was overruled at the last minute.
Whatever happens over the next few months there will be changes in the make-up of the UK government and even if the Labour Party was to be re-elected it is unlikely that Alistair Darling will retain his position at the Treasury.
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