Oh my Darling!

The UK is facing the worst economic conditions for 60 years and the current crisis will be "more profound and long-lasting" than expected, British finance minister Alistair Darling warned Saturday.
Alistair Darling says the UK is facing its worst economic crisis in 60 years.

Alistair Darling says the UK is facing its worst economic crisis in 60 years.

Darling's comments are the Government's grimmest assessment yet of the situation, and come after a Bank of England policymaker warned that unemployment could hit two million by Christmas, the UK's Press Association reported.

Darling said that the economic conditions faced by the UK and the rest of the world "are arguably the worst they've been in 60 years," adding: "I think it's going to be more profound and long-lasting than people thought."

Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, Darling admitted that UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown's ruling Labour Party would face a tough job persuading voters that they deserved another term in office.

"This coming 12 months will be the most difficult 12 months the Labour Party has had in a generation, quite frankly," he said. "We've got to rediscover that zeal which won three elections, and that is a huge problem for us at the moment.