Former Chancellor Alistair Darling dies aged 70

Alistair Darling, the Labour chancellor who steered the UK through the 2008 financial crisis, has died aged 70, a family spokesperson has said.

Following Labour's landslide 1997 election win, Lord Darling served in cabinet for 13 years under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Alongside cabinet roles he led the successful Better Together Campaign in 2014 Scottish independence referendum.

The former Edinburgh MP died after a "short spell" in hospital, his family said.