Difference between revisions of "Ed Balls"

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'''Edward Michael "Ed" Balls''' (born 25 February 1967) is a [[British people|British]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] and [[Co-operative Party]]<ref name="Co-op1">{{cite web|title=Ed Balls|url=http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-Ed-Balls/|publisher=The Labour Party|accessdate=25 June 2010|quote=Ed Balls is the Labour and Co-operative MP for Morley and Outwood|archiveurl=
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{{person
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www2.labour.org.uk/leadership-Ed-Balls/|archivedate=9 June 2010}}</ref> [[politician]], who has been the [[Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Morley and Outwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Morley and Outwood]] since [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010]], and is the current [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]].
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|image=Ed_Balls.jpg
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|image_width=240px
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|birth_date=25 February 1967
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Balls
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|twitter=https://twitter.com/edballs
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|constitutes=politician, deep state operative?
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|description=UK politician. 7 Bilderbergs
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|facebook=https://www.facebook.com/edballs
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|website=http://www.edballs.co.uk
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|spouses=Yvette Cooper
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|alma_mater=Keble College (Oxford), Harvard University
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|birth_name=Edward Michael Balls
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|birth_place=Norwich, Norfolk, England
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|religion=Anglicanism
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|political_parties=Labour (UK), Co-operative Party
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|nationality=British
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|powerbase=http://www.powerbase.info/index.php/Ed Balls
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|children=3
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|employment={{job
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|title=Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
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|start=20 January 2011
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|end=8 May 2015
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}}{{job
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|title=Shadow Home Secretary
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|start=8 October 2010
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|end=20 January 2011
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}}{{job
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|title=Shadow Secretary of State for Education
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|start=11 May 2010
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|end=8 October 2010
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}}{{job
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|title=Secretary of State for Children Schools and Families
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|start=28 June 2007
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|end=11 May 2010
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}}{{job
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|title=Economic Secretary to the Treasury
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|start=6 May 2006
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|end=28 June 2007
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}}{{job
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|title=Member of Parliament for Morley and Outwood
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|start=5 May 2005
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|end=7 May 2015
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}}
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}}
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'''Ed Balls''' is a British Labour Party and Co-operative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Morley and Outwood and [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]] until the May 2015 General Election when he was defeated by the Conservative candidate [[Andrea Jenkyns]].<ref>http://www.party.coop/person/ed-balls/</ref><ref>''[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3073453/Conservative-Andrea-Jenkins-took-Labour-big-hitter-Ed-Balls-seat-entered-politics-father-contracted-MRSA.html "How soprano singer MP who beat Ed Balls was inspired to enter politics after seeing her father die from MRSA he contracted in NHS hospital"]''</ref>
  
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From [[UK general election, 2005|2005]] to [[UK general election, 2010|2010]], he was the MP for [[Normanton (UK Parliament constituency)|Normanton]] and he served as [[Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families]] under [[Gordon Brown]] from 2007-10.
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Married to Blairite Labour MP [[Yvette Cooper]], Ed Balls was initially rumoured to be seeking another seat that would enable him to return to Parliament. Later in 2015, he supported his wife's unsuccessful bid to become [[Leader of the Labour Party]].<ref>''[http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/could-david-miliband-ed-balls-9232159 "Could David Miliband or Ed Balls take over if 76-year-old Coventry MP steps down?"]''</ref>
  
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Balls is married to current [[Shadow Home Secretary]] and fellow Labour MP [[Yvette Cooper]]. In June 2007 they became the first married couple to serve together in a [[Cabinet (UK)|British Cabinet]] when Cooper became [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]].
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In the 2016 leadership campaign, Ed Balls declared his support for former political lobbyist for [[Pfizer]], [[Owen Smith]], against the "leftist utopian fantasy" of [[Jeremy Corbyn]].<ref>''[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/29/ed-balls-compares-jeremy-corbyns-leadership-style-to-a-leftist-u/ "Ed Balls hits out at Jeremy Corbyn's 'leftist utopian fantasy'"]''</ref>
  
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==Early life==
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==Tripping the "leftist utopian fantasy"==
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Ed Balls' father is the zoologist [[Michael Balls]]; his mother is Carolyn Janet Balls (born Riseborough).<ref>Who's Who, published by A & C Black, (2001 edition) ISBN 0713654325</ref> His younger brother is [[Andrew Balls]] the head of European Operations at the bond and [[investment]] firm [[PIMCO]].  Balls was born in [[Norwich]] and educated at [[Bawburgh|Bawburgh Primary School]] in Norwich, Crossdale Drive Primary School in [[Keyworth]], [[Nottinghamshire]], and then the private all-boys [[Nottingham High School]], where he played the violin.<ref name=Matt>{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ed-balls-running-his-race-to-the-beat-of-the-peoples-drum-2077196.html|title=Ed Balls: Running his race to the beat of the people's drum|author=Matt Chorley|newspaper=
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[[File:Strictly_Balls.jpg|260px|left|thumb|"More chance of being the next Prime Minister than he has of winning ''Strictly''"]]
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[[The Independent]]|date=12 September 2010|accessdate=11 June 2011|location= London|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/ed-balls-running-his-race-to-the-beat-of-the-peoples-drum-2077196.html|archivedate=14 September 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|accessdate=11 June 2011|url=http://www.coopseurope.coop/spip.php?article239|title=Ed Balls MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury|publisher=[[Cooperatives Europe]]|archiveurl=
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In September 2016, Ed Balls joined the new series of ''Strictly Come Dancing'' partnered with Russian professional dancer Katya Jones.<ref>''[http://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/national/14831262.Ed_Balls_confesses_guilt_at_starring_on_dance_floor_not_Commons_floor/ "Ed Balls confesses guilt at starring on dance floor not Commons floor"]''</ref> This prompted Tony Parsons in ''[[The Sun]]'' to wager:
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.coopseurope.coop/spip.php?article239|archivedate=14 May 2007}}{{dead link|date=August 2014}}</ref> He went on to attend [[Keble College, Oxford|Keble College]], [[Oxford University|Oxford]], where he gained a First in [[Philosophy, Politics and Economics]], graduating -according to [[John Rentoul]] in ''[[the Independent]]'' -ahead of [[David Cameron]].<ref name=feud/> Later he attended the [[John F. Kennedy School of Government]], [[Harvard University|Harvard]], where he was a [[Kennedy Scholarship|Kennedy Scholar]] specialising in Economics.<ref name=feud>{{cite news|author=John Rentoul |url=http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/30/origins-of-the-cameron-balls-feud/|title=Origins of the Cameron-Balls Feud|newspaper=The Independent|date=30 March 2011|accessdate=4 April 2011|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://blogs.independent.co.uk/2011/03/30/origins-of-the-cameron-balls-feud/|archivedate=3 April 2011|location=London}}</ref>
 
  
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Balls joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in 1983 while still at school.<ref name=Matt/>
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:"Ed Balls, 50 next birthday, has more chance of being the next Prime Minister than he has of winning ''Strictly''.
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While at Oxford he was a partially active member of the [[Oxford University Labour Club|Labour Club]], but also signed up to the [[Oxford Conservative Association|Conservative Association]], "because they used to book top-flight political speakers, and only members were allowed to attend their lectures" according to friends.<ref name="ind-ouca">{{cite news|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/revealed-how-ed-balls-was-a-tory-under-thatcher-406675.html|title=Revealed: How Ed Balls was a Tory under Thatcher], Guy Adamns|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=5 July 2006|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/revealed-how-ed-balls-was-a-tory-under-thatcher-406675.html|archivedate=22 October 2009|location=London}}</ref>
 
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He was a founding member of the all-male drinking club, [[The Steamers]] and suffered embarrassment when a contemporary photo of him wearing Nazi uniform appeared in the papers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Calder|first=Jonathan|url= http://www.newstatesman.com/education/2008/10/labour-school-life-education |title=Labour's private school heroes|publisher=[[New Statesman]]|date= |accessdate=21 January 2012|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.newstatesman.com/education/2008/10/labour-school-life-education|archivedate=28 July 2010}}</ref>
 
  
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===Early career===
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:"But I wish him well because Ed carries the hopes of all us dad dancers, all the half-cut geezers who ever took to a dance floor with wedding cake smeared down their shirt, all the disco dancing fools who ever practised Michael Jackson’s ''Moonwalk'' with just their bedroom mirror for a partner.
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Balls was from 1989 to 1990 a [[teaching fellow]] in the Department of Economics, Harvard University.<ref name=coop>{{cite web|url=http://www.party.coop/person/ed-balls/|title=Ed Balls:Labour and Co-operative MP for Morley and Outwood, and Shadow Chancellor|work=The Co-operative party|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref>
 
  
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He joined the ''[[Financial Times]]'' in 1990 as a [[Leader writer|lead economic writer]]  until his appointment as an economic adviser to Shadow Chancellor [[Gordon Brown]] in 1994. When Labour won the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]], Brown became [[Chancellor of the Exchequer|Chancellor]] and Balls continued to work as an economic adviser to him. He went on to serve as Chairman of [[HM Treasury|HM Treasury's]] Council of Economic Advisers.
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:"We can dream of dancing on ''Strictly''. And leave Ed to live the nightmare."<ref>''[https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/1722934/my-strictly-dream-will-become-ed-balls-living-nightmare/ "My strictly dream will become Ed Balls’ living nightmare"]''</ref>
  
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While he was chief economic adviser to the Treasury, Balls attended the [[Bilderberg Group|Bilderberg annual conference]] of politicians, financiers and businessmen in 2001 and 2003, and returned to the United Kingdom on [[Conrad Black]]'s private jet on both occasions. In 2010 when after details were reported in the press, Balls commented, "It saved the taxpayer the cost of a plane fare and on both occasions I declared it at the time to the permanent secretary in the normal way."<ref>{{cite news|author=Brian Brady|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-balls-twice-hitched-a-lift-in-lord-blacks-jet-2034993.html|title=Ed Balls twice hitched a life in Lord Black's jet|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=25 July 2010 |accessdate=25 July 2010|location=London|archiveurl=
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In October 2016, Ed Balls had reportedly foxtrotted onto the short list of Labour candidates who were competing to stand at the [[2016 Richmond Park by-election]], caused by the resignation of Tory [[Zac Goldsmith]].<ref>''[https://twitter.com/LucyMPowell/status/792811046528487425 "Maybe we should run @edballs for Richmond Park?"]''</ref> On 5 November 2016 journalist, author, and railway historian [[Christian Wolmar]] was formally selected as the Labour candidate.<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/nov/06/labour-byelection-candidate-would-vote-against-brexit-bill "Richmond byelection: Labour candidate says it is right to contest seat"]''</ref>
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-balls-twice-hitched-a-lift-in-lord-blacks-jet-2034993.html|archivedate=28 July 2010}}</ref>
 
  
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==Political career==
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==Bilderberg==
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In July 2004, Balls was selected to stand as Labour and Co-operative candidate for the parliamentary seat of [[Normanton (UK Parliament constituency)|Normanton]] in [[West Yorkshire]], a Labour stronghold whose MP, [[Bill O'Brien (British politician)|Bill O'Brien]], was retiring. He stepped down as chief economic adviser to the Treasury, but was given a position at the [[Smith Institute]], a political [[think tank]]. HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office confirmed that "the normal and proper procedures were followed."<ref>{{cite news|last=Winnett|first=Robert|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/12/ntory312.xml|title= Call for inquiry over Balls's think tank|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 November 2007|accessdate=14 June 2010|location=London|archiveurl=
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While he was chief economic adviser to the Treasury, Balls attended the [[Bilderberg Group|Bilderberg annual conference]] of politicians, financiers and businessmen in 2001 and 2003, and returned to the United Kingdom on [[Conrad Black]]'s private jet on both occasions. In 2010 after details were reported in the press, Balls commented:
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/12/ntory312.xml|archivedate=13 November 2007}}</ref>
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:"It saved the taxpayer the cost of a plane fare and on both occasions I declared it at the time to the permanent secretary in the normal way."<ref>http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-balls-twice-hitched-a-lift-in-lord-blacks-jet-2034993.html</ref><ref>''[//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-balls-twice-hitched-a-lift-in-lord-blacks-jet-2034993.html "Ed Balls twice hitched a lift in Lord Black's jet"] archived 28 July 2010''</ref>
  
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===Member of Parliament===
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==Highballs==
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In the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]], he was elected MP for Normanton with a majority of 10,002 and 51.2% of the vote. After the [[Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom)|Boundary Commission]] proposed boundary changes which would abolish the constituency, Balls ran a campaign, in connection with the local newspaper the ''Wakefield Express'',<ref name=Wake>{{cite web|url=http://www.wakefieldexpress.co.uk/news/local-news/mp-ed-is-calm-over-his-future-1-944258|title=MP Ed is calm over his future |publisher=Wakefield Express |date=19 October 2006|accessdate=28 June 2013}}</ref> to save the seat and, together with the three other [[Wakefield]] MPs (his wife [[Yvette Cooper]], [[Mary Creagh]] and [[Jon Trickett]]), fought an unsuccessful [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] challenge against the Boundary Commission's proposals.
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Ed Balls is currently a Senior Fellow at [[Harvard University]] Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, and a Visiting Professor to the Policy Institute at [[King's College London]]. He was appointed chairman of Norwich City F.C. in December 2015.<ref>http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/norwich-city-ed-balls-announcement-news-2870592.aspx</ref>
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{{SMWDocs}}
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In March 2007 he was selected to be the Labour Party candidate for the new [[Morley and Outwood (UK Parliament constituency)|Morley and Outwood]] constituency, which contains parts of the abolished Normanton and [[Morley and Rothwell (UK Parliament constituency)|Morley and Rothwell]] constituencies.<ref>{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster|accessdate=14 June 2010|url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.com/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070423/debtext/70423-0019.htm|title=Hansard - House of Commons - 23&nbsp;Apr&nbsp;2007. col.754|publisher=Parliament.the-stationery-office.com|archivedate=10 March 2012|archiveurl=
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==References==
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<references/>
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On 5 February 2013 MP Ed Balls voted in favour in the House of Commons Second Reading vote on marriage equality in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130205/debtext/130205-0004.htm |title=The House of Commons.2013.Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012-2013 |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-08-24}}</ref>
 
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===Cabinet===
 
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Balls became [[Economic Secretary to the Treasury]], a junior ministerial position in [[HM Treasury]], in the government [[Cabinet shuffle|reshuffle]] of May 2006. When [[Gordon Brown]] became [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] on 27 Jun 2007, Balls was promoted to [[Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families]].
 
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In October 2008, Balls announced that the government had decided to scrap [[National Curriculum assessment|SATs tests]] for 14-year-olds,<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/14/sats-scrapped|title=Sats for 14-year-olds are scrapped|last=Curtis|first=Polly|date=14 October 2008|location=London|work=[[theguardian.com]]|publisher=[[Guardian News & Media]]|accessdate=25 October 2008 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/14/sats-scrapped|archivedate=16 October 2008}}</ref> a move which was broadly welcomed by teachers, parent groups and [[Official Opposition (United Kingdom)|opposition]] MPs.<ref>{{cite news|last=Garner|first=Richard|url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/national-tests-for-14yearolds-are-scrapped-after-marking-chaos-961393.html|title=National tests for 14-year-olds are scrapped after marking chaos|date=15 October 2008|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|publisher=[[Independent News & Media]]|accessdate=25 October 2008 |location=London|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/national-tests-for-14yearolds-are-scrapped-after-marking-chaos-961393.html|archivedate=21 November 2008}}</ref> The decision to continue with SATs tests for 11-year-olds was described by head teachers' leader Mick Brookes as a missed opportunity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tests scrapped for 14-year-olds|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/7669254.stm|date=14 October 2008|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|accessdate=25 October 2008|archiveurl=
 
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In December 2008, in the wake of the [[Baby P]] case,<ref name=BBCtimeline/>
 
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Ed Balls intervened directly in the running of Haringey Social Services, ordering the immediate dismissal without compensation of Sharon Shoesmith the Director of Children's Services.<ref name=DTsharon>{{cite news|title=Sharon Shoesmith sacked after Baby P scandal|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=8 December 2008|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/baby-p/3684957/Sharon-Shoesmith-sacked-after-Baby-P-scandal.html|accessdate=18 January 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/baby-p/3684957/Sharon-Shoesmith-sacked-after-Baby-P-scandal.html|archivedate=11 December 2008|location=London}}</ref> David Cameron had also called for her dismissal.<ref name=DTsharon/>
 
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Prior to her dismissal, Shoesmith had been widely praised in her former role as Director of Education, though she was handicapped by having no social work background.<ref name=beeb-sharon>{{cite news|title=Profile: Sharon Shoesmith|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8639000/8639697.stm|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=18 January 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8639000/8639697.stm|archivedate=26 April 2010|first=Tim|last=Donovan|date=27 May 2011}}</ref> An emergency OFSTED report ordered by Balls in November 2008 following the child abuse trial found that safeguarding arrangements were inadequate though Shoesmith's lawyers claimed the final report was changed.<ref name=angela>{{cite news|first=Angela |last=Harrison|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8599616.stm|title=Ofsted changed Shoesmith report|first=Angela |last=Harrison|work=BBC News|date=1 April 2010|accessdate= 20 January 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8599616.stm|archivedate=4 April 2010}}</ref>
 
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Shoesmith subsequently brought a [[Judicial review]] against Balls, Ofsted and Haringey Council<ref name=angela/> and a series of appeals followed.<ref name=BBCtimeline>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11626806|title= Timeline of Baby P case|work=BBC news|date=15 February 2012|accessdate=29 April 2013 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11626806|archivedate=4 November 2010}}</ref> The Conservative Opposition supported Ball's right to dismiss her "because ministers want to uphold the principle that they – and not the courts, through judicial review – should be responsible for their decisions".<ref name="Butler and Watt">{{cite news|first=Patrick |last=Butler |first2=Nicholas|last2= Watt|title= Sharon Shoesmith turns on Ed Balls after court rules her dismissal unfair|newspaper =The Guardian|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/27/sharon-shoesmith-baby-p-case|date =27 May 2011|accessdate=18 January 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/27/sharon-shoesmith-baby-p-case|archivedate=28 May 2011|location=London}}</ref>  She received compensation because her sacking had been  "procedurally unfair"<ref name=Beebappeal>{{cite news|title=Sharon Shoesmith Sacking: Baby Peter director wins appeal|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13570959|work=BBC News|date=27 May 2011|accessdate=18 January 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13570959|archivedate=27 May 2011}}</ref> and the Department for Children, Schools and Families was subsequently refused leave to appeal to the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|Supreme Court]].<ref name=BBCtimeline/> In October 2013 it was reported that Shoesmith had agreed an out-of-court settlement with her former employer Haringey Council; unconfirmed reports referred to a sum of 'up to £600,000'. Appeal Court judge [[Lord Neuberger]] had described Balls' dismissal of Shoesmith as 'unlawful', but in a statement issued on 29 October, Balls asserted that 'faced with the same situation [he] would do the same thing again.'<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/baby-p/10410698/Baby-P-boss-Sharon-Shoesmiths-payout-shocking.html|first=Matthew |last=Holhouse|title=Baby P boss Sharon Shoesmith's payout 'shocking'|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=29 October 2013|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/baby-p/10410698/Baby-P-boss-Sharon-Shoesmiths-payout-shocking.html|archivedate=29 March 2014|location=London}}</ref>
 
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Balls sponsored the Children, Schools and Families Bill which had its [[first reading]] on 19 November 2009.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Services.parliament.uk|url= http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2009-10/childrenschoolsandfamilies.html|title= Children, Schools and Families Bill 2009-10|date=8 April 2010|accessdate=14 June 2010|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2009-10/childrenschoolsandfamilies.html|archivedate=27 November 2009}}</ref> Part of the proposed legislation will see regulation of parents who home educate their children in England, introduced in response to the [[Badman Review]], with annual inspections to determine quality of education and welfare of the child.  Home educators across the UK petitioned their MPs to remove the proposed legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8404635.stm|title=Home educators in record petition of MPs|publisher=BBC News|date=9 December 2009 |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8404635.stm|archivedate=10 December 2009}}</ref>
 
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Several parts of the bill, including the proposed register for home educators, and compulsory sex education lessons, were abandoned as they had failed to gain cross party support prior to the pending May 2010 election.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/8607677.stm|title=Ed Balls drops key education reforms|publisher=BBC News|date=7 April 2010|archiveurl=
 
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===Labour leadership election===
 
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{{main|Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010}}
 
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At the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]], Balls narrowly won the newly created [[Morley and Outwood]] seat with 37.6% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=The BBC|accessdate=10 May 2010|title=Election 2010|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c99.stm|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c99.stm|archivedate=9 April 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/england/8667695.stm|title=Education secretary Ed Balls avoids 'Portillo moment'|publisher=BBC News|date=7 May 2010|accessdate=14 June 2010|archiveurl=
 
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//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/england/8667695.stm|archivedate=9 May 2010}}</ref> The general election resulted in a [[hung parliament]], with the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] having the most votes and seats, but no overall majority. Several days after the election, on 11 May, the Conservatives and [[Liberal Democrats]] announced that they would form a [[Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition|coalition government]], shortly after [[Gordon Brown]] resigned as both [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]].
 
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Balls announced, in Nottingham, on 19 May 2010 that he was standing in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2010|election to replace Brown]]. Balls was the third candidate to secure the minimum of 33 nominations from members of the Parliamentary Labour Party in order to enter the leadership race. The other contenders were former [[Foreign Secretary]] [[David Miliband]], former [[Secretary of State for Health|Health Secretary]] [[Andy Burnham]], backbencher [[Diane Abbott]] and former [[Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change|Energy Secretary]] [[Ed Miliband]], who would go on to win.
 
−
 
 
−
===Shadow Cabinet===
 
−
New Labour Leader [[Ed Miliband]] appointed Balls [[Shadow Home Secretary]] on 8 October 2010, a job he held until 20 January 2011, when the resignation of [[Alan Johnson]] due to "personal reasons" led Miliband to announce Balls as Labour's [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]].<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12242397|title=Alan Johnson 'to quit front-line politics'|date=20 January 2011|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12242397 |archivedate=21 January 2011}}</ref> As Shadow Chancellor, Balls regularly appears with Miliband at joint press conferences relating to Labour policy. Together with Miliband, Balls has promoted a "five-point plan for jobs and growth" since he took office as Shadow Chancellor. The plan is described as aimed at helping the UK economy, and involves reinstating the bonus tax to fund building more social homes, bringing forward long-term investment, cutting [[VAT]] to 17.5%, cutting VAT on home improvements to 5% for one year, and instigating a one year [[national insurance]] break.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.labour.org.uk/plan|title=Labour's plan for jobs and growth|publisher=[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]|date=19 October 2011|accessdate=21 January 2012|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.labour.org.uk/plan|archivedate=14 October 2011}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Balls revealed in January 2012 that he will continue with the public sector pay freeze which led to opposition from [[Len McCluskey]]. He had a bruising exchange in the House of Commons with [[George Osborne]] regarding the Libor rate scandal, where Osborne accused Balls of being involved in the scandal. Conservative MPs became unhappy after Bank of England deputy governor, [[Paul Tucker (banker)|Paul Tucker]] denied encouragement to pressurise Barclays with [[Andrea Leadsom]] saying Osborne had made a mistake and should apologise.<ref name=nic&helene>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jul/10/george-osborne-apology-ed-balls|title=George Osborne faces Tory pressure to apologise to Ed Balls|first= Nicholas |last=Watt |first2=Hélène |last2=Mulholland|work=Guardian newspapers|date=10 July 2012 |accessdate=26 September 2013|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/jul/10/george-osborne-apology-ed-balls|archivedate=28 September 2013}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Political activities==
 
−
Balls has played a prominent role in the [[Fabian Society]]. In 1992 he wrote a Fabian pamphlet advocating [[Bank of England]] independence, a policy adopted when [[Gordon Brown]] became Chancellor in 1997.<ref name=feud/><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1245453/Schools-secretary-Ed-Balls-reveals-stammer.html|title=Ed Balls reveals his struggle with secret stammer|publisher=Daily Mail|work=Mail Online|date=20 January 2011|accessdate=29 March 2014|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1245453/Schools-secretary-Ed-Balls-reveals-stammer.html|archivedate=25 January 2010|location=London|first=Ryan|last=Kisiel}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Balls was elected Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society for 2006 and Chair of the Fabian Society for 2007. As Vice-Chair of the Fabian Society, he launched the Fabian Life Chances Commission report in April 2006<ref>{{cite web|url= http://fabians.org.uk/publications/books/narrowing-the-gap|title=The Fabian Society - Narrowing the Gap: The final report of the Fabian Commission on Life Chances and Child Poverty|publisher=Fabians.org.uk|accessdate=14 June 2010|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://fabians.org.uk/publications/books/narrowing-the-gap|archivedate=6 May 2008}}</ref> and opened the Society's Next Decade lecture series in November 2006,<ref>{{cite web|publisher=The Fabian Society|url= http://fabians.org.uk/events/events/-stronger-europe-essential-says-ed-balls|title= Ed Balls 'Next Decade' lecture: Britain's Next Decade|date=1 November 2006|accessdate=14 June 2010|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20080610185332/http://fabians.org.uk/events/events/-stronger-europe-essential-says-ed-balls|archivedate=10 June 2008}}{{dead link|date=August 2014}}</ref> arguing for closer European cooperation on the environment.
 
−
 
 
−
Balls has been a central figure in New Labour's economic reform agenda. He and [[Gordon Brown]] have differed from the [[Blairism|Blairites]] in being keen to stress their roots in Labour party intellectual traditions such as Fabianism and the co-operative movement as well as their modernising credentials in policy and electoral terms. In a ''[[New Statesman]]'' interview in March 2006, [[Martin Bright]] writes that Balls "says the use of the term 'socialist' is less of a problem for his generation than it has been for older politicians like Blair and Brown, who remain bruised by the ideological warfare of the 1970s and 1980s".<ref name=newstatesman>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200603200022|title= Interview: Ed Balls|publisher=New Statesman| date = 20 March 2006|accessdate=14 June 2010|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/1312941898778556|archivedate=10 August 2011|<!--DashBotWC-->}}</ref>
 
−
 
−
"When I was at college, the economic system in eastern Europe was crumbling. We didn't have to ask the question of whether we should adopt a globally integrated, market-based model. For me, it is now a question of what values you have. Socialism, as represented by the Labour Party, the Fabian Society, the Co-operative movement, is a tradition I can be proud of", said Balls.<ref name=newstatesman />
 
−
 
 
−
==Personal life==
 
−
He married [[Yvette Cooper]] MP, who later became [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]], in [[Eastbourne]] on 10 January 1998.<ref>{{cite web|title="Debrett's People of Today 2011", Extract Editions|date= 2011| page=77|url=http://www.exacteditions.com/exact/browse/455/1210/7772/3/113 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/1312834585731429|archivedate=8 August 2011|accessdate=31 August 2014}}</ref> Cooper is [[Member of Parliament]] for Morley & Outwood's neighbouring constituency of [[Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (UK Parliament constituency)|Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford]]. They have three children.<!-- this source only mentions two, source needed for third child --><ref>{{cite news|url =http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1338650/Health-minister-celebrates-birth.html|title=Health minister celebrates birth|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=27 August 2001|accessdate=14 June 2010|location=London|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1338650/Health-minister-celebrates-birth.html|archivedate=23 February 2012}}</ref> Cooper and Balls were the first married couple to serve together in the British cabinet.<ref name=BBCNews30Nov2009>{{cite news|accessdate=20 November 2011|publisher=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7642459.stm|title=The Cabinet: Who's Who|date=30 November 2009|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7642459.stm|archivedate=4 October 2008}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Balls was fined in June 2013 for going through a red light in December 2012.<ref name=Beebfine>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23093338|title= Ed Balls fined for going through red traffic light|work=BBC news|date=28 June 2013 |accessdate=28 June 2013|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23093338|archivedate=28 June 2013}}</ref> He has also admitted speeding in April 2013 and using his mobile phone whilst driving during the 2010 General Election.<ref name=Beebfine/>
 
−
 
 
−
Ed Balls is a fan of [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567402/Profile-Ed-Balls.html|title=Ed Balls-profile|publisher=The Telegraph|date=27 October 2007|accessdate=10 June 2010 |location=London|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1567402/Profile-Ed-Balls.html|archivedate=9 September 2010}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
In September 2010, the [[British Stammering Association]] announced that Balls had become a patron of the Association. Its Chief Executive, Norbert Lieckfeldt, paid tribute to him for having been very public in his declaration that he has at times struggled with his speech.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=[[Speaking Out]]|url= http://stammering.org/edballspatron.html|title=Ed Balls MP becomes BSA patron
 
−
|publisher=[[British Stammering Association]]|date=Winter 2010|accessdate=15 June 2011|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://stammering.org/edballspatron.html|archivedate=27 August 2011}}{{dead link|date=August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7056823/Ed-Balls-People-who-stammer-avoid-certain-situations-but-in-my-job-you-cant.html|title=Ed Balls: People who stammer avoid certain situations,but in my job you can't|last=Riddell|first= Mary |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=23 January 2010|accessdate=15 June 2011|location=London|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/7056823/Ed-Balls-People-who-stammer-avoid-certain-situations-but-in-my-job-you-cant.html|archivedate=26 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1221870/Ive-battled-stammer-life-reveals-Schools-Secretary-Ed-Balls.html|title= I've battled a stammer all my life, reveals Schools Secretary Ed Balls|publisher= ''[[Daily Mail]]''|work=[[Mail Online]]|date= 21 October 2009|accessdate=15 June 2011|location=London|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1221870/Ive-battled-stammer-life-reveals-Schools-Secretary-Ed-Balls.html|archivedate =22 October 2009}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
===Allegations over allowances===
 
−
{{Main|United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal}}
 
−
In September 2007, with his wife [[Yvette Cooper]] MP, he was accused by Liberal Democrat MP [[Norman Baker]] of "breaking the spirit of Commons rules" by using MPs' allowances to help pay for a £655,000 home in north London.<ref>{{cite news|last= Hope|first=Christopher|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/24/nrules124.xml|title=Ed Balls claims £27,000 subsidy for 2nd home|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 September 2007|accessdate=14 June 2010|location=London|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/24/nrules124.xml|archivedate=10 December 2007}}</ref> Balls and Cooper bought a four bedroom house in [[Stoke Newington]], and registered this as their second home (rather than their home in [[Castleford]], West Yorkshire) in order to qualify for up to £44,000 a year to subsidise a reported £438,000 mortgage under the Commons Additional Costs Allowance, of which they claimed £24,400. Both worked in London full-time and their children attended local London schools. Balls and Cooper claimed that "The whole family travel between their Yorkshire home and London each week when Parliament is sitting. As they are all in London during the week, their children have always attended the nearest school to their London house."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564016/Ed-Balls-claims-27000-subsidy-for-2nd-home.html|title=Ed Balls claims £27,000 subsidy for 2nd home|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 September 2007|accessdate=14 June 2010|location=London|first1=Christopher|last1=Hope|first2=Kara|last2=Gammell|archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1564016/Ed-Balls-claims-27000-subsidy-for-2nd-home.html|archivedate=18 May 2008}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
Balls and Cooper "flipped" the designation of their second home three times within the space of two years.<ref name=Rosa>{{cite news|last=Prince|first=Rosa|url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5325590/Ed-Balls-and-Yvette-Cooper-flipped-homes-three-times-MPs-expenses.html|title=Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper 'flipped' homes three times: MPs' expenses|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=15 May 2009|accessdate=14 June 2010|location=London|archiveurl=
 
−
//web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5325590/Ed-Balls-and-Yvette-Cooper-flipped-homes-three-times-MPs-expenses.html|archivedate=18 May 2008}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
In June 2008 they were referred to the Standards Commissioner over allegations that they were claiming expenses for what was effectively their main home in London, their combined claim was £24,000 i.e. "slightly more" than the single MP allowance.<ref name=Rosa/> The commissioner exonerated them, adding that their motives were not for profit as they paid full capital gains tax.<ref name=Rosa/>
 
−
 
 
−
===Fined for failing to stop after a car "crash"===
 
−
On 5 August 2014 Ed Balls was fined £900 and given 5 penalty points on his driving license for failing to stop after a car "crash".  He claimed he knew that the cars had touched, but didn't stop to check as he didn't think any damage had been done.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-28658217|title=Shadow chancellor Ed Balls fined over car accident|newspaper=BBC News |date=5 August 2014|accessdate=5 August 2014|location=London}}</ref>
 
−
 
 
−
==Notes==
 
−
{{Reflist|30em}}
 
−
 
 
−
==External links==
 
−
*[http://www.edballs.co.uk/ Ed Balls] ''official constituency website''
 

Latest revision as of 08:31, 4 August 2021

Person.png Ed Balls   Facebook Powerbase Twitter WebsiteRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(politician, deep state operative?)
Ed Balls.jpg
BornEdward Michael Balls
25 February 1967
Norwich, Norfolk, England
NationalityBritish
Alma materKeble College (Oxford), Harvard University
ReligionAnglicanism
Children3
SpouseYvette Cooper
Member ofFabian Society, WEF/Young Global Leaders/2005
PartyLabour (UK), Co-operative Party
UK politician. 7 Bilderbergs

Employment.png Shadow Home Secretary Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
8 October 2010 - 20 January 2011
Succeeded byYvette Cooper

Employment.png Shadow Secretary of State for Education Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
11 May 2010 - 8 October 2010
Succeeded byAndy Burnham

Employment.png Economic Secretary to the Treasury Wikipedia-icon.png

In office
6 May 2006 - 28 June 2007

Ed Balls is a British Labour Party and Co-operative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Morley and Outwood and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer until the May 2015 General Election when he was defeated by the Conservative candidate Andrea Jenkyns.[1][2]

Married to Blairite Labour MP Yvette Cooper, Ed Balls was initially rumoured to be seeking another seat that would enable him to return to Parliament. Later in 2015, he supported his wife's unsuccessful bid to become Leader of the Labour Party.[3]

In the 2016 leadership campaign, Ed Balls declared his support for former political lobbyist for Pfizer, Owen Smith, against the "leftist utopian fantasy" of Jeremy Corbyn.[4]

Tripping the "leftist utopian fantasy"

"More chance of being the next Prime Minister than he has of winning Strictly"

In September 2016, Ed Balls joined the new series of Strictly Come Dancing partnered with Russian professional dancer Katya Jones.[5] This prompted Tony Parsons in The Sun to wager:

"Ed Balls, 50 next birthday, has more chance of being the next Prime Minister than he has of winning Strictly.
"But I wish him well because Ed carries the hopes of all us dad dancers, all the half-cut geezers who ever took to a dance floor with wedding cake smeared down their shirt, all the disco dancing fools who ever practised Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk with just their bedroom mirror for a partner.
"We can dream of dancing on Strictly. And leave Ed to live the nightmare."[6]

In October 2016, Ed Balls had reportedly foxtrotted onto the short list of Labour candidates who were competing to stand at the 2016 Richmond Park by-election, caused by the resignation of Tory Zac Goldsmith.[7] On 5 November 2016 journalist, author, and railway historian Christian Wolmar was formally selected as the Labour candidate.[8]

Bilderberg

While he was chief economic adviser to the Treasury, Balls attended the Bilderberg annual conference of politicians, financiers and businessmen in 2001 and 2003, and returned to the United Kingdom on Conrad Black's private jet on both occasions. In 2010 after details were reported in the press, Balls commented:

"It saved the taxpayer the cost of a plane fare and on both occasions I declared it at the time to the permanent secretary in the normal way."[9][10]

Highballs

Ed Balls is currently a Senior Fellow at Harvard University Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government, and a Visiting Professor to the Policy Institute at King's College London. He was appointed chairman of Norwich City F.C. in December 2015.[11]

 

Events Participated in

EventStartEndLocation(s)Description
Bilderberg/200124 May 200127 May 2001Sweden
Stenungsund		The 49th Bilderberg, in Sweden. Reported on the WWW.
Bilderberg/200230 May 20022 June 2002US
Virginia
Chantilly
Westfields Marriott		The 50th Bilderberg, held at Chantilly, Virginia.
Bilderberg/200315 May 200318 May 2003France
Versailles		The 51st Bilderberg, in Versailles, France
Bilderberg/20068 June 200611 June 2006Canada
Ottawa		54th Bilderberg, held in Canada. 133 guests
Bilderberg/20136 June 20139 June 2013Watford
UK		The 2013 Bilderberg group meeting.
Bilderberg/201429 May 20141 June 2014Denmark
Copenhagen
Marriott Hotel		The 62nd Bilderberg, with 136 guests, held in Copenhagen
Bilderberg/201511 June 201514 June 2015Austria
Telfs-Buchen		The 63rd meeting, 128 Bilderbergers met in Austria

 

Related Document

TitleTypePublication dateAuthor(s)Description
Document:The Demonization of Jeremy CorbynArticle10 December 2019Tony McKennaNotwithstanding, Corbyn was transfigured by a rabid establishment into successive manifestations of the purest evil: he was a terrorist sympathiser; a threat to national security; a communist spy; a misogynist; and, a dyed-in-the-wool anti-Semite.
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.party.coop/person/ed-balls/
  2. ↑ "How soprano singer MP who beat Ed Balls was inspired to enter politics after seeing her father die from MRSA he contracted in NHS hospital"
  3. ↑ "Could David Miliband or Ed Balls take over if 76-year-old Coventry MP steps down?"
  4. ↑ "Ed Balls hits out at Jeremy Corbyn's 'leftist utopian fantasy'"
  5. ↑ "Ed Balls confesses guilt at starring on dance floor not Commons floor"
  6. ↑ "My strictly dream will become Ed Balls’ living nightmare"
  7. ↑ "Maybe we should run @edballs for Richmond Park?"
  8. ↑ "Richmond byelection: Labour candidate says it is right to contest seat"
  9. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-balls-twice-hitched-a-lift-in-lord-blacks-jet-2034993.html
  10. ↑ "Ed Balls twice hitched a lift in Lord Black's jet" archived 28 July 2010
  11. ↑ http://www.canaries.co.uk/news/article/norwich-city-ed-balls-announcement-news-2870592.aspx
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