Talking Balls

Simon Stephenson

Yes, I read this little anecdote in Jane Merrick's article* in yesterday's Independent on Sunday. She also quoted the following from Campbell's diaries:-

"On 26 April 1995, after a meeting on economic strategy in which Mr Balls "drivelled on endlessly", Mr Campbell records that Mr Blair said afterwards he "only wanted grown-ups to attend his meetings"."

Ho ho!

* http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-miliband-is-expecting-a-happy-event-ndash-but-alastair-campbell-puts-the-boot-in-1986871.html

Walsingham's Ghost

He sounds like perfect Labour Leader material to me...

WG

Ronnie

We don't need Alistair Campbell to tell us this.

nonny mouse

post neo-classical endogenous growth theory?

Ron Todd

I thought of Balls as combining the worst of Blair and Brown, arrogance and tribalism, opportunism and hatred. Perhaps there is a bit of Prescott in there as well.

ollie

As opposed to Campbell, who just lies.

Cuffleyburgers

So what?

Roger Davies

New, Old, Next, Last Labour are irrelevant and need to be pushed to the margins forever. Power does not suit them or us!

The Laughing Cavalier

For years you scribblers have been telling us, against our better judgment, how clever this drivelling idiot is. Now that we have had the chance to see him in action as a Minster and the memoirs are emerging we can all see him for what he really is, a tribalist fool and bully with no judgement.

nonny mouse

It isnt Ed Balls as Leader that scares me.

It is Ed Balls as Shadow Chancellor, because then he might end up in Number 11.

You thought Gordon screwed up the economy...

Ken

What's needed is a concerted CH campaign backing Balls over Bananas in the tribal leadership race, help superglue Liebour to opposition benches for the next millennium.

Paddy

When will Campbell realise he's "yesterdays" man.

Ronnie

Paddy.

When people stop talking and writing about him and when the BBC stop inviting him on Question Time.

old fogey

Bit rich that comment from Teenage Tony, the perennial adolescent.

alexsandr

Love the photo!!!!

Moraymint

I can imagine that Balls' presence in a room would be much like that of his best mate Brown: bloody unbearable. Only in politics could blokes like these survive more than a day or so in paid employment.

Frank P

Is this the same Jane Merrick that once wrote for the Telegraph?

Snowman

but drivel and Labour suit each other well, if Balls got the post, it would be a marriage to the satisfaction of both parties, and an advantage for the boys.

Paddy

Ronnie: Not long them!

2trueblue

So what? He got a easy ride on the expenses saga from the Telegraph, left hand page, at the bottom????? Good placement to escape any real scrutiny. Who did the layout?

Noa Zrk

A great photo.

I have been struggling for ages to identify who little Eddie Balls reminded me of. It became clear when I saw this. He's the living, or is it dead, image of Hermann Georing.