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.

He also led the Better Together campaign in 2014’s Scottish independence referendum.

The ex-Edinburgh MP died after a short spell in hospital, his family said.