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He entered Parliament in 1987 as MP for Edinburgh Central. He soon became a home affairs spokesman, and at the time of the 1997 General Election had risen to Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and was transferred to the real office after the election. In 1998 he was made Work and Pensions Secretary, and was transferred to Transport in 2002, when his predecessor Stephen Byers resigned after a great deal of criticism. After the rump Scottish Office was folded into the Department for Constitutional Affairs, he was made Scottish Secretary also.
Darling has a striking pair of black eyebrows which contrast starkly with his silvery hair. Consequently, critics often compare the minister to penguins, cows, badgers and other black-white animals. Many of these nicknames were previously applied to Norman LamontNorman Stewart Hughson Lamont, Baron Lamont of Lerwick PC, was Conservative MP for Kingston upon Thames from 1972 until 1997. In 1998 he was appointed a life peer and now carries the title Lord Lamont of Lerwick. He was best-known for his period serving a, another British politician with very prominent eyebrows.
| Preceded by: Harriet HarmanThe Right Honourable Harriet Harman (born 1950) is a British barrister and Labour politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for Camberwell and Peckham since 1982. She was educated at the University of York. She became Labour's front-bench spokesma | Secretary of State for Social SecurityThe Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. It was created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and th 1998–2001 | Followed by: Office Replaced |
| Preceded by: — | Secretary of State for Work and PensionsThe Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is a position in the UK cabinet, responsible for the Department for Work and Pensions. It was created on June 8, 2001 from the merger of the Employment part of the Department for Education and Employment and th 2001–2002 | Followed by: Andrew SmithThe Right Honourable Andrew Smith (born 1952) is a British politician for the Labour Party, and a former member of the Cabinet. He is MP for Oxford East, and after Labour's victory in the 1997 general election he was made a minister in the Department for |
| Preceded by: — | Secretary of State for Transport 2002– | Followed by: Current Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Helen LiddellThe Right Honourable Helen Lawrie Liddell (born December 6, 1950, Coatbridge, Scotland, nee Reilly) is a United Kingdom politician, and member of Parliament for Airdrie and Shotts since 1997. She is a member of the Labour Party. She was first elected to P | Secretary of State for Scotland 2003– | Followed by: Current Incumbent |