Alex Salmond says Chancellor Alistair Darling is out of touch

Aug 31 2008 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

ALISTAIR Darling has been accused of underestimating Britain's economic meltdown...until a waiter accused him of being extravagant.

First Minister Alex Salmond claimed the ticking-off proved Darling was out of touch with reality.

The Chancellor was about to order a second bottle of wine in a restaurant when he was told: "Too much."

He then realised his feast might be seen as a slap in the face for cash-strapped voters.

Yesterday he said Britain is facing its worst economic crisis in 60 years.

He said it will be "more profound and long-lasting" than expected.

But Salmond said: "This is a Chancellor who realises how bad things are when a waiter complains about him ordering a second bottle of wine.

"He will know howbad things are when people can't afford to heat their homes this winter."

Salmond likened Darling to Dad's Army character Private Frazer, best-known for his phrase: "We're all doomed."

The SNP leader added: "What is needed from Alistair Darling is action for economic recovery, not words about economic depression. We need a reflation package to stimulate recovery and it is needed right now."

Tory shadow chancellor George Osborne joined the attack.

He asked: "Who is telling the truth at the top of government?"

He added: "The Prime Minister says the economic situation isn't as bad as people think and that Britain is well placed to weather the economic storm but the Chancellor says we are at a 60-year low.

"It's not clear whether Alistair Darling meant to tell us the truth about the mess 10 years of a Labour Government has left our economy in, but he has certainly let the cat out of the bag."

Yesterday Darling said of the downturn: "I think it's going to be more profound and longlasting than people thought."

He admitted the Labour Government had its "work cut out" to persuade the public that it deserved another term.

He said: "This coming 12 months will be the most difficult 12 months the Labour Party has had in a generation, quite frankly. We've got to rediscover that zeal which won three elections....People are p***** off with us.

"We really have to make our minds up. Are we ready to try to persuade this country to support us for another term?

"Because the next 12 months are critical. It's still there to play for."

Darling rejected claims there would be a Cabinet reshuffle by Gordon Brown and that he could lose his job as Chancellor.

The Edinburgh South West MP said: "You can't be chopping and changing people that often "At some stage before the end of the Parliament he will want to do a reshuffle but I'm not expecting one imminently.

The SNP claimed yesterday they would win 30 Westminster seats in an election after an opinion poll gave them 38 per cent of voters. They are 11 points ahead of Labour, who would lose 31 of their 38 seats.

WENDY ALEXANDER has been branded "not likeable at all" by Alistair Darling. It is another humiliation for the Paisley North MSP, who quit as leader after breaking rules on donations.

Darling backtracked last night, saying he had the "utmost respect" for her. It has emerged she is set to escape a oneday ban from Parliament.

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