Nearly every article I have read about Ed Balls results in a HEATED/PROVOCATIVE debate on the subsequent forum.

Never since Margaret Thatcher has a politician generated so much interest/opinions/hostility etc, from both Labour and Tories.

For the first time in 20 odd years we have a politician who can really set the cat among the pigeons. Keep it up Ed, after 20 years of boredom, politics has started becoming interesting again.

That is some achievement. And it's an achievement with significance that has clearly not been lost on David Cameron or Ed Miliband.

Agreed. Its somewhat ironic its down to a quirk of fate in the form of marital infidelity though. Balls was perfectly positioned to take advantage.

Arthur, I couldn't agree more. I watched the whole of his contribution to the budget debate (I'm that sad) and what struck me was that after a season of politicians who could pass for dull, uninspiring public sector managers, we've finally got a real character who is funny, clever, combative and generally great to watch. I think he's set to just get better and better.

Some within the Labour party have been urging Ed Miliband to seize the opportunity to open a new dialogue with the electorate and apologies for the appalling deficit and to be more honest in acknowledging Labour's failings in office. Ed Balls has advocated a different approach. Neither apologise nor explain his and Mr Brown's disastrous economic policy, with the hope the British people will forget who was to blame for the economic down-turn. Brown-Balls and the Bankers, the 3Bs..

Apologise?

First who and why apologise? The deficit (not the debt) is a consequence of the deepest recession since the 30s, and the ONLY global recession since the Second World War.

But why such a deep recession? That is the fault of millions, but particularly the economics profession. The boom should have been recognised for what it was, and especially the housing boom. It was an unsustainable bubble.

To blame. The BoE for not raising interest rates when property prices rose 20% a year for several years. Deregulation by government, Tory calls for more deregulation, bankers' greed, rating agencies mispricing, property investors, govt helping property investors (tax etc), TV property porn; the whole British fetish with it - which survives even after the mess.

And the bankrupt economics profession claiming that Adam Smith had all the answers bar his theory that Labour creates wealth.
I sometimes wonder if the public itself likes to simply blame Brown and the last government so as to absolve themselves.

Labour's spending was only excessive on two fronts: depending on the property market boom could never persist; and PFI. The last of which is for Brown to show contrition.

Britain's overall public debt is actually relatively low compared to other G7 countries. Italy, France, Germany and Japan has worse debt. The US similar levels, only Canada has less, but that is a resource-rich nation.

But where our debt outdoes others? Private sector, corporate and personal debt (this is larger than the entire economy), which is why economic recovery will be difficult without govt. And why this government is wrong.

Labour was broadly right in its response to the crisis. But allowing the bubble to continue, and for not punishing the banks, for that it should apologise!

And as Ed Miliband said at his conference speech. It was horrendously naive about the free market. Apologise for that, and you could switch the terms of the debate. Do it!

No Arthur Williamson,

You are quite wrong, read my post again, I don't feel hostility to him at all. Like I said, he is a minor irritant. I rather agree with blunttrauma, he is past his sell by date along with the same old gang at Westminister, roll on AV and lets have some variety.

Stuart Eels

Okay, I surrender to you, if it makes you feel better.

In my first email, all I did was express an opinion, and as always, I tried to express it in a civilised manner.

In my second email, I was expressing my impression of what you had written in response to my first email. The fact you started off with a rather aggresive/rude tone gave me the impression you were hostile. If your hostility is not aimed at Ed Balls, then I guess it`s aimed at me. I am sorry if I had upset you.

Many years ago, a close friend once said to me - "Arthur, it`s not just about what you say or what you write, how others interpret it matters as well, and like it or not you can never say their interpretation is wrong because we all see things differently". With this in mind Mr Eels, there`s no need to ask me to read your post again, that doesn`t wash with me. I respect your opinion is different from mine, and hope we can agree to disagree, rather than allow ourselves to be dragged into a slagging match.

I think the only Conservative who was pleased to see Ed Balls get the job of shadow chancellor was Teresa May. He is doing a great job of pointing out the pitfalls in Osbourne's policies and correcting his sums.
As to the relationship beween the two Eds, they appear to complement each other well. I heard both of them speak during the election for leadership and they have different styles and approaches to their audience. Balls is intellectual and incisive; Milliband is charming and approachable. I do not think it is advisabe to underestimate either of the Eds.
If there is a problem, it is the media's obsession with the desire to recreate the adversary of the Brown/Blair disputes, which gave them so much gossip to fill their columns.

Arthur Williamson,

What a load of rubbish, he's a minor irritant spot on the dirty bum of UK politics and the sooner hes gone the better. If he is the great hope of the Labour Party he'll drag them lower than at the last election.

Oh dear lets try again NS, since you didn't post my previous comment.

Ehtch Tee

Your shoulders must be lacerated. Before your begin your class war from behind a computer you might like to know that Ed Balls was educated at Nottingham High School, one of the top toff Public Schools and them slid seamlessly in Keble College, Oxford, thus keeping daddy's tradition going!

Brown and Balls effectively bankrupted this country between them and Balls will turn millions off of Labour and call me Dave knows it and loves it. Roll on AV to hiold this lot to account!

Looks like you will have to find an "Oik from a council estate down the road" somewhere else.

elrob. Who was in government for 13 years? To dismiss western debt as 'not being a problem' is breathtaking. Many governments are on course for bankruptcy-unless they raise taxes to levels that would simply wreck their economies, only by reducing spending to sustainable level, can governments avoid bankruptcy along with all the appalling consequences. Most governments have very little room to maneuver, old expectations of what the state offers it's citizens will have to change.

matthew... When i witnessed Brown&Co along with the bankers turn this country into financial basket-case.

matthew. Brown and Balls called the shots not Osborne, now please keep-up.

Called, that means past-tense Luddite doesn't it.

I take it your denying the £12 Billion PSBR for Feb 11, I thought Osborne deficit plan was to cut it, not increase it.

Stuart Eels - note the "as ifs" in my comment.

Anyway, since I am behind my computer and starting a class war, how many aristocrat-decendants are there in the Labour cabinet? Cameron and Osbourn is stuffed full of such blood.

Right, I'm off to oil my gullotine now and sharpen its blade, just to be ready.

Balls is alright, not obviously PM material, maybe, but definately the moderm day John Prescott, I say.
GO BALLS!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SD3HS5yIwi4

Thats how the Toffs talk to each other, anyhow watch your don't cut your fingers off, more subsidies from me to you to pay for your treatment!