To be fair to Ed Balls, everyone forgets names from time to time. ‘His surname has just gone from my mind at this time of night,’ said the Shadow Chancellor, looking sheepish. We’ve all been there, struggling to remember the name or Jenny Thingummer, or Tom Whatsisname. But the wider problem is that Balls couldn’t think of anyone other than this Bill Somebody when asked to name business leaders who supported Labour. It’s easy to forget a name. But not so much an entire list of names who support a party, especially when you’re on your way into a studio to claim that said party is very pro-business. Was Bill the only guy who’d expressed support for Labour? That impression, of just one lonely businessman, was more damaging, not that Balls couldn’t remember the man’s surname.
The question wouldn’t have been asked of the Tories, because the assumption is always that the party is too cosy with big business. David Cameron forgetting the name of a business supporter would almost be politically cute because it would be so surprising. But there is nothing cute about Labour appearing badly prepped on a weak area. And when a mistake is quite, well, funny, then it garners more attention. This morning, everyone is talking about Bill. He’s never been so famous.
Though the party is quite confident that it should have fought back against Stefano Pessina’s remarks, it has been growing more anxious over the last 24 hours about the wider implications of it in the business community. Before the Balls interview, party figures were remarking to me that what they needed to do next was wheel out some heads of ‘good’ businesses who support Labour’s plan for Britain. Now, this need has become rather more urgent: Labour needs more than just one chap called Bill Somebody.
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