Alistair Darling today brushed aside rumours that he would be demoted for his dire and off-message prognostication on the state of the economy.

A political storm has raged since the Chancellor was quoted in a newspaper interview on Saturday, saying that the economic times faced by Britain and the world "are arguably the worst they've been in 60 years".

His remarks put him at variance with Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, who has emphasised that Britain is well placed to ride out any world recession.

Mr Darling also said in the interview with The Guardian that there was jockeying for position among other ministers who would like to take over at 11 Downing St. "There's lots of people who'd like to do my job. And no doubt," he was reported as adding, half under his breath, "actively trying to do it."

Today Mr Darling told Sky News that he expected to keep his job, and that Mr Brown was not planning an imminent reshuffle.

"Yes," he said, when the question was put to him. "Frankly, what's more important to me is the economy, first and foremost. That's what I'm concentrating on, and that's what the Prime Minister is concentrating on. I'm not worried about it [being moved in a reshuffle] whatsoever."

Mr Darling repeated that Britain was facing an economic crisis, but did not reassert the view that things had not been so bad since the 1940s.

"What I'm confident about is that we will get through it," he said. "My sole concern is doing everything possible to get through an economic crisis."

Business leaders have attacked Mr Darling's comments, blaming him for excessive pessimism which they said would damage Britain's hopes of recovery. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, accused him of "talking down" the economy.

Sterling has dropped still further in the international currency markets since the interview, reaching a record low against the euro today and a two-year low against the dollar.

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