Alistair Darling is to mount a last-ditch effort to persuade the rest of Europe to meet a $75bn shortfall in International Monetary Fund financing pledges made at London’s Group of 20 summit, according to government insiders. Finance ministers from the 20 countries are to meet in London on Thursday.

The UK is determined to ensure that Europe meets its “fair share” of the extra $500bn (£350bn, £307bn) funding for the International Monetary Fund that was announced at the G20 meeting in April, government insiders said on Wednesday.