Born: London, November 1953.
Son of civil engineer.
Educated: Schools in Kirkcaldy and Musselburgh; Aberdeen University. Studied law.
Early work: Solicitor. Became advocate in 1984.
Family: Married to former Herald journalist Maggie Vaughan; two children.
Politics: Supported International Marxist Group before joining Labour aged 23. Became Lothian councillor.
Parliament: Elected MP for Edinburgh Central in 1987; since 2005 has represented Edinburgh South West.
Opposition: 1988 Neil Kinnock made him Home Affairs spokesman; 1996 Tony Blair appointed him Shadow Chief Treasury Secretary.
Government: 1997 Chief Treasury Secretary; 1998 Social Security Secretary; 2001 Work and Pensions Secretary; 2002 Transport Secretary; 2003 also made Scottish Secretary; 2006 Trade and Industry Secretary; 2007 Chancellor to 2010.
Key events: Had unenviable task of sorting out 10p tax fiasco; was at helm when banking crisis struck after run on Northern Rock. Memorably said in August 2008: "The economic times we are facing are arguably the worst they've been in 60 years and it's going to be more profound and long-lasting than people thought." Spat in 2009 with Gordon Brown, who unsuccessfully tried to replace him as Chancellor with Ed Balls, led him to say: "The forces of hell were unleashed," a reference to PM's aides briefing against him.
Post-government: 2011 published Back from the Brink – 1000 days at No 11; 2012 leader of No to independence campaign.
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