Alistair Darling hosted 1981 republican party

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.

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

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But previously unpublished minutes of the North Edinburgh Constituency Labour party, now placed in the National Library of Scotland, show he hosted a party at his flat in July 1981 to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”.

Alistair Darling in September 1986.

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.