ALISTAIR Darling’s career was hanging by a thread last night after Gordon Brown refused to back his Chancellor to survive damaging revelations about his expenses.
In an interview, the Prime Minister failed to guarantee that Mr Darling, or Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, would still be in their jobs next week.
Mr Brown said: “They are doing a good job, but I am not going to make any predictions about anything that is going to happen in the next week.”
The comment, which came after Mr Darling agreed to pay back about £700 he claimed for running a flat he rented out, is astounding because a Prime Minister normally backs his Chancellor to the hilt, if only to satisfy the financial markets.
It also appeared to confirm a looming Cabinet reshuffle after Labour’s expected drubbing in this week’s local and European elections.
The shake-up is expected to include the sackings of a number of senior ministers at the centre of expenses allegations, including Ms Blears, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith - and, perhaps, Mr Darling.
The Chancellor originally described yesterday’s Daily Telegraph allegation that he broke parliamentary rules by claiming second-home allowances on two properties simultaneously as “simply untrue”.
