Broke, helpless Darling has run out of steam - Scotsman.com News IF THIS was the Famous Last Stand of Fiscal Prudence, avert your eyes. As a defence against the debt onslaught Britain now faces, Alistair Darling's performance was about as convincing as D-Day without landing craft, or Rorke's Drift without rifles. He may have mouthed the words of a "Pre-Budget Report". But it was a Pre-Election Report. A disgraceful dereliction of duty for a chancellor, we are all going to pay for it in the future, I hope he also pays for it as well, but he won't as he enjoys his gold plated pension and speaking fees...