Balls, McBride and off-the-record briefings
Peter Hoskin 3:34pm
John Rentoul has already pulled the best passage from this preview of a forthcoming radio series on Gordon Brown.
But I reckon that the testimony of Spencer Livermore, the former strategy chief in No.10, deserves a spot in the Westminster scrapbook:
For his part, Balls has denied the story. He is, let us never forget, the Labour leadership candidate who has "no time for off-the-record briefings." Yet, still, you wonder whether his chances of being shadow chancellor under Ed Miliband ended in October 2007."Mr Livermore, who was Downing Street's director of political strategy, regrets not warning about the downside of scrapping the election when Team Brown got cold feet as polling in marginal seats suggested only a slim Labour majority. 'I don't think it's possible. Does anyone?' the Prime Minister told his inner circle at the crucial meeting. The mood was 'very, very sombre', according to Mr Livermore.Ed Miliband told Mr Alexander, Labour's campaign co-ordinator: 'I bet within 20 minutes we find we're going to get the blame for this.'
Mr Livermore said: 'Twenty minutes turned out to be slightly longer than it took… Damian [McBride] told me he had been instructed to blame certain individuals.' Mr McBride told Mr Livermore that the order had come from Mr Balls.
Mr Livermore was shocked but not surprised, claiming that Mr McBride – who later resigned over emails discussing a smear campaign against senior Tories based on untrue stories – in effect worked for Mr Balls as well as for Mr Brown."
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charles hercock
September 17th, 2010 3:53pm Report this commentYou see what a good and cunning strategist and spinner the impressive Ed Balls is.Come on Labour rank and file we do not want a boring Milliband
les
September 17th, 2010 3:59pm Report this comment"For his part, Balls has denied the story"
Doesn't he always deny the story.
Vulture
September 17th, 2010 4:13pm Report this comment@Hercock - (are you Lady Gaga by the way?)
'We' certainly do not want a boring Milliband.
Still less do 'we' want a repulsive Balls.
'WE' do not want any more of the lying, cheating scumbags who have turned this country into a toilet.
You may - but that is your problem. You are on the wrong site here matey.
alexsandr
September 17th, 2010 4:18pm Report this commentVulture.
Sureley we want the vilest snake as labour leader to stuff their chances of being re-elected?
I would nominate Ed Bollocks for that role.
charles hercock
September 17th, 2010 4:44pm Report this commentEd Ball is an undoubted star
Vulture cannot recognise quality and intellect
He is also good for the coalition
Greenslime
September 17th, 2010 5:03pm Report this commentCharles hercock,
I didn't realise that secure hospitals for the criminally insane allowed unfettered access to the internet. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
But it is late now and you should leave the computer and make sure that you get your medication.
Gawain
September 17th, 2010 6:21pm Report this commentLabour are enjoying themselves at the moment. Unchallenged by an uncritical and ideologically sympathetic media they are shamelessly opposing everything and throwing ordure at their opponents. Stories like this remind us that the most noxious lumps in the fetid cesspit that passes as an excuse for our politics sit on the Labour benches. Balls would make a wonderful ornament to a sewer !
Paddy
September 17th, 2010 7:33pm Report this commentBalls and his obnoxious 'fish wife' will make sure Labour never get a whiff of power ever again.
ollie
September 17th, 2010 8:08pm Report this commentBalls is one of the most dishonest politicians in Britain at the moment. He is a seasoned liar, like Brown, his God.
Dan
September 17th, 2010 9:12pm Report this commentBalls is lying toe-rag, of that there is no doubt.
charles hercock
September 17th, 2010 9:40pm Report this commentYou uncharitable folk
He is not grey like the Millibands
Owen Morgan
September 17th, 2010 10:07pm Report this commentCan someone explain to me, please, why we need a radio series about Gordon bl**dy Brown?
lescam
September 17th, 2010 11:47pm Report this commentThey are all liars, but so are all politicians without exception. Personally I find Balls slightly less obnoxious than the rest. He is certainly far less repulsive than Brown. In fact compared with Brown, he's George Clooney, with knobs on.
Roger Davies
September 18th, 2010 7:39am Report this commentIoseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili (Stalin) born again as Ed Balls. This man would eat your babies if it would increase his power over you.
Fergus Pickering
September 18th, 2010 2:22pm Report this commentEd Balls walks on water. Not bad for a man as fat as he is. Ed Balls would make a most satisfactory Labour Party leader, just what they need and deserve.
TGF UKIP
September 18th, 2010 3:04pm Report this commentContrary to expectations and what Guido has been predicting, Balls is going to poll surprisingly well in the Labour leadership election and this won't damage him in the slightest.
Paddy
September 18th, 2010 7:58pm Report this commentTGF UKIP:
Balls for Leader.
Watch the fun and fireworks.
Such fun to watch as long as he's nowhere near power or the 'books'.
Simon Stephenson
September 18th, 2010 11:05pm Report this commentThis applies to all of them really, but definitely to the two Milibands, and in spades to Mr Balls.
How can I feel good about having as a Prime Minister, someone who I know, every time his/her mouth is open, is trying to mislead me? Someone who has so little attachment to truth that it's automatic behaviour to say whatever is most advantageous to him/her and the party, irrespective of what the reality may be.
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