Alistair Darling hosted 1981 republican party

Alistair Darling criticised the direction of the Labour Party - just one of many figures to do so. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

BETTER Together leader Alistair Darling hosted a republican bash on the eve of Charles and Diana’s wedding, according to newly unveiled Labour party documents.

Mr Darling, the former chancellor, is seen as a major establishment figure after successfully leading the campaign against Scottish independence in the run-up to last year’s referendum.

But previously unpublished minutes of the North Edinburgh Constituency Labour party, now placed in the National Library of Scotland, show he hosted a party at his flat in July 1981 to provide an “antidote to ‘toasting the Royal Couple’”.

Guests were also invited to “bring lots of booze”.

Bob Thomson, a former Scottish Labour chairman, said Mr Darling, who stepped down from Westminster last month, had very different political tendencies in the 1980s.

“Alistair advocated left-wing and confrontation with the government,” he said.

“He was certainly on the hard left and had long hair, a beard and walked around in jeans with the backside out of them.”

Mr Darling declined to comment.