Alistair Darling turned down offer to chair trust to refurbish No 10

Former chancellor cited concerns about the potential for donors to expect political favours

The former chancellor Alistair Darling turned down an offer to chair a trust to refurbish No 10 and No 11 Downing Street, citing grave concerns about the potential for donors to expect political favours, the Guardian understands.

The former chancellor, one of only three living Labour politicians to have lived in Downing Street, is understood to have been approached because of this connection to the building while there was a desire within the Cabinet Office for the trust to be established on a cross-party basis.