How close we came to Chancellor Balls
James Forsyth 2:01pm
Sue Cameron’s Notebook in the FT is one of the best guides there is to the mood in Whitehall. The main focus of her column today is the discontent among the Mandarins about the fact that huge cuts will have to be made but they are getting no guidance from their current ministers as to where and how this is to be done.
But the bit which stood out to me was how advanced Ed Balls plans for moving to the Treasury were. Cameron reports that:
"Some in Whitehall have still not recovered from the reshuffle drama when schools secretary Ed Balls had his hopes of becoming chancellor dashed. 'It was Shakespearean,' says one onlooker. 'Ed had his finger on the crown. He’d even cleared his diary and said goodbye to his civil servants. He knew he was moving – then he didn’t.'"
The more that comes out about the reshuffle, the more clear it becomes that Brown—whatever he says—did intend to move Darling. It was James Purnell’s resignation that stopped him from doing that.
Making Balls Chancellor might have been the act that sparked off a broader Cabinet rebellion. So, ironically, Purnell might have unintentionally saved Brown from himself.
Update: Ed Balls' SPAD is in touch with an emphatic denial of Sue Cameron's story. He says that Balls' diary was never cleared and that he never said goodbye to his civil servants.
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Charles Flaccidwidger
July 15th, 2009 2:36pm Report this commentDunno if I want to hate Purnell for saving Brown (if, indeed, he did) or want to shake his hand for preventing Balls becoming Chancellor.
Tiberius
July 15th, 2009 2:40pm Report this commentAs Fireflash Darling nose-dived towards the Sea of Oblivion, James Purnell Tracy fearlessly flew his Thunderbird machine beneath it. The evil Hood Balls looked on helplessly as his latest plan to take over the universe was foiled by some unworthy do-gooder in a plastic blue suit.
oldtimer
July 15th, 2009 3:13pm Report this commentIt is encouraging to see that the 20% cuts planning is confirmed and is not just a rumour. No doubt someone has thought it necessary to let the rating agencies know that some people are not entirely deaf and blind the the fix we are all in. If they slow down recruitment and not fill positions when people leave/retire than they might even make 2 to 3% progress towards 20% by the time the general election occurs. Then there are all the future spending projects to be kicked into the long grass and quietly forgotten. But that will still leave c15% of painful choices and surgery.
David
July 15th, 2009 3:26pm Report this commentCompletely off topic, but worth highlighting:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8152159.stm
If he were a muslim, this would be front page news....
Richard Edward Tarded
July 15th, 2009 3:31pm Report this commentNo no, Sue Cameron has got it completely wrong... I quite clearly remember Gordon Brown telling us in no uncertain terms, twice, that he had no intention of replacing Darling at the Treasury. It is a fact that everything our Prime Minster says is factual. The man cannot lie; he was taught not to by his father who was a man of god.
Why you're putting your faith in someone who shares a surname with the leader of the opposition is quite beyond me... but I think it tells us all we need to know about where her loyalties lie.
Dr.A
July 15th, 2009 3:34pm Report this commentHas anyone actually told mr balls he didn't get the job? the way he goes about conducting business you might be mistaken for thinking otherwise
Chris lancashire
July 15th, 2009 4:35pm Report this commentLike Charles Flaccidwidger I'm torn between two emotions. Pleasure at seeing the odious Balls denied something he desperately wanted. Disappointment that Brown wasn't allowed to make his final mistake.
Moraymint
July 15th, 2009 4:42pm Report this commentWhilst the politicians play their childish games (it's depressing when you think about it), it is indeed heartening to think that our civil servants are getting on with the job of figuring how to savage public expenditure.
I maintain that even if (when) the Tories get into office, they too will be knocked senseless within months (or even weeks) by unfolding events.
Neither of the main parties is prepared to confront the economic war zone towards which they're sleepwalking. So, the economy and our society will together take on a life of its own as individuals, companies and public organisations run out of credit/cash ... with all that that entails.
If our political elite does not get proactive in this respect, then we shall spend the coming months/years dealing with effects of bankruptcy.
Les
July 15th, 2009 6:13pm Report this commentFor Sale.
One moral compass. In mint condition - hardly used.
Apply Gordon Brown PM
Cardinal Richelieu's mole
July 15th, 2009 7:23pm Report this commentSo your UPDATE means: -
1. Balls' diary had been kept empty - so no need to clear it;
2. The Civil Servants were given chance to say goodbye to Balls, not him to them.
We know how New Labour works now see! ;-)
Michael Booth
July 15th, 2009 7:37pm Report this commentNever mind how close we came to Chancellor Balls, have a look at the Telegraph online and read how Brown has nominated Blair as President of the EU Council. There's a petition up to protest at http://stopblair.eu/
so if you feel as strongly as I do why not take a look.
Paul
July 15th, 2009 9:05pm Report this commentWhy are these people still in power?
Stephen
July 15th, 2009 9:46pm Report this commentBut why would anyone, least of all a PM, think Mr Balls was up to it?
David Bouvier
July 15th, 2009 10:45pm Report this commentI have it from a source I trust in the civil service, that there was a drinks reception that - while not organized for the purpose - became an event at which Balls said goodbye to his team.
Given the presence of civil servants who would know, is Balls prepared to deny in Parliament that Brown lied when telling that press conference he had not planned to move Darling.
Rainer Unsinn
July 16th, 2009 7:04am Report this commentPaul, ZaNu Labour is not in power. It is still, sadly, the elected Government, but it is decidedly not in power.
Battle 2807
July 16th, 2009 4:08pm Report this commentHmmm..... is Sue Cameron lying, or is Ed Balls lying??
A tricky one....
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