Gove stirs up trouble for Balls
Peter Hoskin 10:46am
I gave it a passing mention in my last post, but it's worth highlighting Michael Gove's mischievous comment piece in the the Guardian today. Why "mischievous"? Well, because its purpose seems to be to rile Ed Balls and mobilise his internal opponents:
It certainly makes sense for the Tories to play up Balls's leadership chances. There's nothing more likely to incite Labour in-fighting that the prospect of a promotion for the Schools Secretary. But the main reason to target Balls comes later in Gove's piece, when he highlights some of the appalling inadequacies of the schools system. In no other policy area is there such a gulf between the failure of Brown's government and the transformative potential of the alternative.'In a series of not so subtle signals to the grassroots, Ed has been emphasising, whenever the opportunity arises, that he is the socialist candidate for anyone in the party who wants to move away from the sullied compromises of Blair era. In a recent interview he explained that the battle for the leadership would be a struggle between David Miliband and himself - setting up the contest as a choice between the clearest heir to Blair and the key opponent of Blairism. To avoid any semblance of doubt about just how opposed to Blairite thinking he was, he dismissed James Purnell's efforts to map out new centre-ground thinking as evidence of a 'mid-life crisis'. Ed clearly sees himself, like Nye Bevan at the end of the Attlee era, as the rallying figure for the left in the faction fight to come. And it was no coincidence that Ed made the case for Bevan as Labour's greatest hero in the Guardian's conference debate last year.'
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Sharon
August 11th, 2009 11:11am Report this commentI agree with James Delingpole, Gove is possibly the only reason to vote Conservative at the next election.
Mitch
August 11th, 2009 11:13am Report this commentThe education policy of this country has been a complete joke for at least 40 years.
It is nothing less than a criminal scandal.
Given that, who gives a toss about Balls (or Gove for that matter)?
They all have, are, and will continue to, fail this country and it's children
Rhoda Klapp
August 11th, 2009 11:25am Report this commentSilly. When there's nothing much to write about, there's really no problem to put in something about actual real problems of our time. You don't have to rehash rubbish used by leftie newspapers to fill the gao between the public sector job ads.
Bruce Robertson
August 11th, 2009 11:30am Report this commentEek! "Its" possessive with an apostrophe! In the Spectator!
*faints*
Malcolm
August 11th, 2009 11:32am Report this commentWell done Mr Gove, keep up the good work, but it has to be said that a target as odious and repulsive as this one isn't difficult to hit.
Dan
August 11th, 2009 11:49am Report this commentSharon - so getting rid of this appalling government isn't a decent reason?
Mitch - nice to see an optimistic outlook for the future.
Pete Hoskin
August 11th, 2009 12:06pm Report this commentBruce Robertson: apologies, I hadn't had my morning caffeine fix. Fixed now.
Andy Carpark
August 11th, 2009 12:18pm Report this commentBalls and Miliband are the original two bald men fighting over a comb.
Despite Michael Gove's signs of serious thought about how to salvage a derelict education system, I beg to disagree with Sharon. He is just another exemplar of the modern political class and in the light of his escape from the expenses imbroglio he has preserved the moral authority to pontificate about precisely nothing.
saddleworth
August 11th, 2009 12:33pm Report this commentWhen the Skule Sekretry entered politics he hid the fact that he was really Ed T Balls. He didn't think that his parents christening him Talking would help his career
Minnie Ovens
August 11th, 2009 12:52pm Report this commentEd Balls sees himself as Bevan?
I don't think it would be the other way around.
Balls, with his privileged background and education is the antitheseis of Bevan.
Bevan had huge experience in the Collieries, povert and unemployment which led to his "left wing" Labour philosophy. He was a charismatic orator.
Balls has little social experience, has no oratorical abilty, turning to lies and deceit when confronted.
He is not charismatic and his wife is no Jennie Lee.
Balls has, quite literally, ballsed everything up in all his portfolios and then lied to get out of it.
Bevan used great pragmatism and common sense to bring the NHS to a successful start against many odds and he made a proficient start to the housing needs of post war Britain.
But I regret to say that both he and Bevan could be called "squalid nuisances" except this is not true, in hindsight, for Nye Bevan.
Churchill wouldn't even acknowledge Balls or have him anywhere near his cabinet.
Swiss Bob
August 11th, 2009 12:58pm Report this commentFor those of you who missed it see Gove at the Despatch box: Gove crushes Balls.
Mrs B
August 11th, 2009 1:01pm Report this commentI predict Balls will lose his seat at the next election - but that's not enough, he ought to be strung up for his disastrous handling of our children's education. Gove seems okay, but we need more grammar schools.
Sir Graphus
August 11th, 2009 1:30pm Report this commentMore curious was Mandleson announcing that poor kids would get a 2 grade headstart for university admission.
Mandy now has a huge range of responsibilities and power, and free range to roam over a wide area of policy, but it really surprised me that he was free to trample on Balls' patch in this casual manner.
Is Balls' star on the wane?
Minnie Ovens
August 11th, 2009 1:30pm Report this commentThey all have, are, and will continue to, fail this country and it's children
Mitch, I agree but there is a responsibilty of parents to also do their bit. I accede that the Government has failed in this area as well.
It's all ground up work, not top down,so hard to make a quick sound byte out of it.
Verity
August 11th, 2009 1:48pm Report this commentHowever loathesome he may be, Balls is in the Cabinet. For Gove to refer to him in a written piece as Ed is beyond ghastly. It would be bad enough in a verbal reference, but this was a written piece that he presumably read over a couple of times before he released it. He is as bad as any slovenly ex-Student Union Trot.
TrevorsDen
August 11th, 2009 2:02pm Report this commentKlapp illustrates the ridiculous lengths people will go to in order to not agree with the Conservatives. Just because Cameron refuses to slay all the first born Ms K stands on her head to scream her bile.
teledu
August 11th, 2009 3:28pm Report this commentWhy don't the Tories simply say they'll allow areas/constituencies/boroughs without Grammar schools to vote on whether they want them. If they do, the LEA must fund them. "Simples"
Battle 2807
August 11th, 2009 3:29pm Report this commentInteresting to read the comments after Gove's piece in the Grauniad. Even Grauniad readers seem to despise Balls. Nuff said.
Alan Douglas
August 11th, 2009 3:44pm Report this commentMrs B,
You are so discrete ! I think I would have said Balls should be strung up by his unmentionables ...
Alan Douglas
Rob C
August 11th, 2009 4:16pm Report this commentVerity, Sorry but I can't agree with you on that one - titles are a mark of respect and achievement and I have seen nothing from Balls to have earned either! Everyone makes a big issue of 'respect' (or more the lack of) in our society and yet the fact we continue to allow (and worse still elect) such a poor grade of individual into high office really undermines the argument we are trying to make to our children. I can't see much honesty or integrity in any of our existing cabinet and that's why we are in such a mess. As I've grown older the two most significant changes in my views are 1) Respect is something that is earned and has no bearing on age, office or title; 2) Intellect has no relation to academic ability - lots of stupid people have degrees! We live in an era of officious academics that command no respect from the electorate and nor do they have the capacity to deal with the problems we as a society face. I for one would rather be led by people with both intellect and clear achievements. Why therefore would Mr Balls be referred to by any other (non-libelous) term than his name?
Rhoda Klapp
August 11th, 2009 4:40pm Report this commentTrevorsden, no, wrong end of stick. I meant to criticise the Spec for the number of silly season westminster bubble stories, of which, given the slant towards discomfiting Balls, this was an example. Basically seen from that angle it's trivia. Nothing against Gove per se, his is the best of Tory policies. Nothing against Cameron intended in this post either. But I can't help it if they lack policies at this stage, I'd like to know more of their intentions. But not trailed out as silly season stories or hints or circumlocutions. That's what they'll need to do to get my vote (which they don't need, they'll win my constituency no matter what).
But basically I'm fed up with the silly season, fed up with the bubble, fed up with UK politics and noticing that so many posts here have the same themes and the same knee-jerk comments from the same people (yes, I know I'm one of them).
Education policy: I'm for better schools for all. I think the Gove plan will help. but I don't think it is enough on its own.
strapworld
August 11th, 2009 5:31pm Report this commentIf the Tories started a consistent,thorough and hard hitting campaign against this vile man, Balls, it would not take much to break him.
I see a very vunerable boy under his thin skin. Tears will soon flood.
Verity
August 11th, 2009 6:49pm Report this commentRob C - Thanks for the comment, but I maintain that is respect for the office, not the man, that would dictate he be referred to as his title by a member of the Shadow Cabinet. There was something creepily collegiate about the use of the word "Ed".
Rob C
August 11th, 2009 8:27pm Report this commentVerity, point taken and there was a time when I would have agreed 100%. However, over the last 10 years we have sadly lost most of our respect as a society for 'officials' in most forms. Although I don't think that this a good thing, as much of it is attributable to poor behavior by our elected/appointed representatives as it is to the modern 'trendiness' of our liberal and informal society. I do believe however that most of my generation (40's) and above still have respect for institutions and individuals like the police, lawyers, doctors, servicemen etc. Where we tend to draw the line now is at politicians and sadly, I think that is something that will take a decade or more to recover. It is however largely of their own doing and perhaps the expenses and a general election will serve in part as a new broom? We need strong, honest and fair leadership - Labour fail on all three, but I sincerely hope Cameron won't. There was/is nothing Statesmanlike in Blair or Brown and the the more we find out, the more discredited they become in the eyes of most. The irony is that now more than ever society needs us to try and teach the importance of respect and honesty to our children and yet our leaders set a very poor example. We need role models other than celebrities who have achieved worthwhile goals. The offices of government will not be respected again until they earn the trust back - and there is no way I can see that this can be achieved by the incumbents! Labour's legacy will not just be economic collapse, but also one of dragging the UK's credibility to historic lows both in international eyes and our own self-esteem. Any minister who behaves like a prat and resorts to gutter politics like Balls/McBride should not get respect. Then we must take into account the mess in Education... Personally, I think Mr Gove was rather generous in referring to him as Ed... ;-)
Verity
August 12th, 2009 12:57am Report this commentRob C - Thanks for your thoughtful response. I have chosen the one para below to respond to because it is the fastest to illustrate:
"Labour's legacy will not just be economic collapse, but also one of dragging the UK's credibility to historic lows both in international eyes and our own self-esteem."
I agree with you. But do we have to be complicit? (As in Gove?) If it's protective colouration, I find it cowardly and crass.
Moraymint
August 12th, 2009 9:18am Report this commentHasn't the past 12 years demonstrated beyond any shadow of a doubt that socialism - even when heavily disguised by spin and stealth - simply doesn't work?
Our education system is a basket case; social mobility has gone into reverse; our public services generally devour money to no discernible benefit to citizens, and the nation is careering towards bankruptcy with a vengeance.
It beats me how any politician of the 21st Century can trumpet socialism as the politics of the age when the country currently looks and feels like one almighty bomb site.
Are these Labour guys really as unfathomably stupid as they seem?
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