Ed Balls opens a new front in the same old way

There are plenty of pressing issues at the moment, but two in particular stand out: the cost of living and youth unemployment. Ed Balls lost no time in latching onto the first issue. On becoming shadow chancellor, he immediately attacked the government’s VAT rise and benefits changes, which he judged to be the main contributors to rising inflation.

It has been a  successful tactic, sustained by rising inflation and determined political pressure. Now Balls seems to be turning his full gaze at youth unemployment. In article for the News of the World, Balls launches his campaign to save “Britain Lost Talent”. At the root of this is a plan to create 100,000 new jobs funded by a £2bn tax on bankers’ bonuses.

You’d be forgiven for feeling more than a touch of déjà vu. Labour’s bankers’ bonus tax is back – the weaknesses and cynicism of which have been discussed on Coffee House before. Balls also treats the readers of the News of the World to another course of Ballsonomics:

“Of course the worldwide recession – caused by the irresponsible actions of the banks – meant youth unemployment rose sharply. But a year ago, thanks to Labour’s youth jobs programme, it was starting to fall steadily.”

Of his role in our downfall, he says nothing – again. But, for all of Balls’ conceit his article is tactically astute. The number of NEETs fell last month, which has pleased the government no end. But it remains a very sensitive area, affecting both IDS’ and Michael Gove’s departments, which are the seats of the coalition’s most ambitious reform programmes. Balls is far too canny, not to mention annoying, to turn-up a scratch.