Alistair Darling spent the first year of the Labour government as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, working on the Comprehensive Spending Review with Chancellor Gordon Brown. He was the minister in charge of public spending - which meant behind-the-scenes tussles with fellow Cabinet ministers over their departmental budgets. He was promoted to Secretary of State for Security in July when Harriet Harman was sacked. Alistair Darling was born in London but went to Aberdeen University and became a lawyer in Edinburgh. He gained experience in local government and was elected MP for Edinburgh Central in1987, rising quickly through the ranks. In opposition he was Home Affairs spokesman for four years and spokesman on Treasury and Economic Affairs from 1992-96. His once distinctive black beard has now gone - some say on the orders of Labour's media advisers. He is married to Margaret, with one son and one daughter.