Alistair Darling: Downing Street unleased hell on me

Published on Tuesday 23 February 2010 23:37

THE Downing Street bullying scandal took a new turn last night when Alistair Darling, right, revealed for the first time how Gordon Brown's advisers tried to undermine him.

The Chancellor said he had been briefed against by Downing Street after giving a controversial interview in 2008 in which he claimed the recession would be the worst in 60 years.

Mr Darling said "the forces of hell" were "unleashed" on him by both Downing Street and the Tories.

He said: "The weekend after we came back and I'd done this interview the forces of hell were unleashed."

When asked whether the briefing was by Downing Street, Mr Darling answered: "Yes, and the Tories jumped on the bandwagon too."

The Chancellor also admitted to some "very robust exchanges" with Mr Brown.

He said: "Of course there are ups and downs. All of us can be guilty from time to time of saying things or doing things that perhaps we shouldn't."

Mr Darling and Mr Brown are known to have had disagreements over the economy, with the Chancellor wanting to tackle Britain's debt more quickly than the Prime Minister.

A Conservative spokesman last night said: "The idea that Gordon Brown runs a happy and united team has been blown apart tonight.

"This is amazing public confirmation from the Prime Minister's own Chancellor that he ordered his henchmen to brief against him."