Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

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Ed Balls: "Boris is less of a statesman and more of a buffoon"

A sneak preview of my interview with the shadow chancellor for this week's magazine.

By Mehdi Hasan Published 29 March 2011 17:51

I've interviewed Ed Balls for this week's New Statesman -- out on the newsstands on Thursday.

Here are a few comments from the shadow chancellor that might not make it into the final piece:

1) On the TUC rally and Boris Johnson

The shadow chancellor seemed pretty annoyed with Boris Johnson's Telegraph column yesterday -- on the subject of Saturday's TUC march and the violent protests -- in which the Mayor of London claimed that "Balls and Miliband will feel quietly satisfied by the disorder":

I thought it was an outrageous thing to say. It was a deeply irresponsible thing to say. I was quite shocked. Boris's problem is he spends so much time attacking David Cameron that he probably thought he had to attack someone else for a change. He is less of a statesman and more of a buffoon and I think he should withdraw those comments.

Balls, who criticised Sky News for its alleged bias in an interview with me ahead of the 2010 general election, says that he understands the demands of the 24-hour news channels. He is, nonetheless, critical of the media coverage of Saturday's rally and the decision by the BBC and Sky News to cut away from Ed Miliband's speech in order to show the protests in Oxford Street:

The idea that a peaceful, broad-based demo of over a quarter of million people should be overshadowed by 200 or so immature idiots is wrong and very frustrating.

Asked if Labour been damaged by Miliband's decision to address the TUC rally in Hyde Park, Balls says:

You should give the public more credit -- the TUC, the marchers and the police were very clear in their public statements about the differences between the two groups.

As for the violent "anarchists" on Oxford Street, Balls says, "They probably hate me and Ed Miliband more than they hate David Cameron and George Osborne."

2) On Libya and the cost of military action:

Balls supports the military action against the Gaddafi regime but is critical of the Chancellor's decision to try to predict the costs in advance:

George Osborne was unwise when he said at Treasury questions that this operation would only cost tens of millions of pounds. It shows that he is obviously defensive about the cost. He can't possibly know that it will only cost tens of millions of pounds; it could turn out to cost much more and go on much longer than he thinks. The right thing to say is that we cannot know the cost. It's a little like him saying that the economy is "out of the danger zone".

And in a swipe at the Tories' analogy of the Budget deficit with a credit-card account, the shadow chancellor adds:

If, two years ago, the credit card had been maxed out, we wouldn't now be able to go to war in Libya. If the nation was trying to run this war on the basis of its credit card, then it would be in trouble. It just shows what vacuous tosh all that Conservative language is.

You'll have to wait till Thursday, however, and the publication of the print edition of the magazine to read Balls's views on Ed Miliband, Alan Johnson, Yvette Cooper and the structural deficit . . .

Tags: Libya Ed Balls George Osborne Boris Johnson

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37 comments

Wed, 2011-03-30 02:38 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

@ mat Fox: 'Asking Osborne for a lesson in economics is like asking a sailor how to fly a plane.'

The very best pilots are sailors. On the aircraft carriers it is the sailors who take to the air from very small runaways in the most skillful of manners.

And they get support from a range of economic advisers, many more advanced in their economic understanding than you and Danny Blanchflower.

Thu, 2011-03-31 08:47 — Topit

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Thu, 2011-03-31 09:57 — George Fripley (not verified)

Nobody cares jucy about politicians any more there is a conspicuous lack of talent there. I even went looking ....

Futile Search

I’m told there is talent in our political system
But I’ve looked pretty hard and it seems that I’ve missed ‘em
I took myself off through the corridors of power
It made me depressed and got worse by the hour
‘Cos all of the members to whom I was presented
Acted like kids or were clearly demented
The place was just full of these crushing old bores
The whining idealists, political whores.

When I finally left I felt soiled and stained
And wondered aloud about what could be gained
If we chucked this lot out and elected some more
But the reality was that I couldn’t be sure
That they wouldn’t just argue like immature gits
And continue to give the taxpayer the shits
So I gave up my quest and took myself home
Got rid my angst with this therapeutical poem.

Wed, 2011-03-30 08:38 — Anon E Mouse (not verified)

None of this makes any difference. The public aren't listening. No one cares about Labour.

The polls don't show a decent lead for the party because of the clearly useless Ed Miliband but because no one cares.

The Labour Party is a shambles and the likes of Medhi Hasan do not understand why they are doing so badly - Blair was 21% ahead at this point without any draconian cuts.

People want something different and this author would raise better points by asking what on earth Miliband's advisors were doing letting him make that ridiculous speech comparing human rights with the government cuts. Why aren'y people furious about that?

It is true Miliband represents a privileged individual who is wealthy by his mother's tax avoidance and has never worked a day in his life but to face no criticism for Saturdays drivel (shame on you Peter Hain) is scandalous.

The party machine imagines it is still in government with it's control freak tendencies and because of that Labour deserve what they've got...

Wed, 2011-03-30 09:16 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

I'm only furious about all these anonymous commentators

Sat, 2011-04-02 21:16 — ian russell (not verified)

Oh Balls!How could you get it so wrong? "immature idiots " was bad enough but then quoting the number arrested when 150 of them were UK Uncut protesters stitched up by the boys in blue.Now I know you're not on the side of the angels .

Wed, 2011-03-30 10:18 — thinkov

Ed will you call luddite to he really gets on mt nerves

Wed, 2011-03-30 12:53 — Angela (not verified)

Well as they say "it takes one to know one"

Wed, 2011-03-30 13:04 — Anton Jury (not verified)

What people should be more concerned with is how Boris Johnson and his adviser's claimed just before the last London Mayoral Elections in 2008 that Ken Livingstone and others were corrupt and syphoning off money that was for City Hall Projects but after all those dirty tactics and once Boris Johnson became Mayor for London the inquiry that was set up to investigate Ken Livingstone and others found them innocent on all counts. Just how much damage did all those false and misleading accusations do to Ken Livingstones reputation and did this deny him another term in office as Mayor for London.

What people should be concerned with is all the deceit and lies from the Tory Machine.

Mon, 2011-04-04 14:28 — Tony (not verified)

Who is Ed Balls, oh yes just another prat

Thu, 2011-03-31 15:29 — Scotty

The normal rsponse would be it takes one to recognise one - a buffoon - however balls hasn't enough wit to be a buffoon, he's a loudmouth and a spoilt child now his toy of playing with our money has been taken from him.

I was however amused when I read one of his statements in which he assumes that the public are represented by the marchers - the public sector may have been present in force but not the public and there is a difference, although labour could never dare admit that fact.

Wed, 2011-03-30 13:56 — JohnBaxendale

'Miliband represents a privileged individual who is wealthy by his mother's tax avoidance'. Do tell us more, Anon E Mouse.

Wed, 2011-03-30 13:58 — Reginald-Fah-fah

I buy copy of the NewStatesman on every Thursday.

All my family, friends and business associates are big fans of Boris and this 'buffoon comment' is unfounded!

Boris is a Great Statesman and he is a heightweight! I.E. Boris proved his Statesmanship at our 2018 World Cup Bid! They should have let him open our bid!!!!

I'm a tory success story and back our campaign Mayor Boris Johnson! My 2010 campaign ended the career of the Labour Member in my area! My 2012 campaign will put Ken back into retirement!

Boris speaks up for Londoners and fights for more affordable homes to rent and buy for Londoners!

Boris supports London Pensioners, who deserve a decent imcome, comfort and security in their old age.

I'm welcoming the new Boris Buses, Boris opening the 2012 Oympics! Fantastic!

Fri, 2011-04-01 20:28 — LYNDA DAY (not verified)

One prat politician calling another prat politician a buffoon?
Better than any comedy on telivision yet.

Fri, 2011-04-01 20:37 — Reginald-Fah-fah

Folks! wasn't Boris bloody marvellous on Questiontime last night?

Watching the repeat on sunday on the parliament channel!

Tue, 2011-03-29 18:47 — M. Herzberg (not verified)

I would really like to thank the NS for publishing a complete transcript of Millibands speech. Reading it made quite obvious why the news eyes prefered to show destitute angry young people raiding shops where the could never afford to buy anything.

What struck me most, that Milliband avoided to name ANY action he would possibly take if in chargea nd that he avoided to call out for economic redistribution (from the rich to the poor this time), or , say, recalling troops from Iraq or Afghanistan because these wars cost tons of money.

In short, Milliband spoke lots of meaningless words. I guess he is lucky that some punks stole his show ....

Wed, 2011-03-30 17:54 — Anon E Mouse (not verified)

JohnB - No problem. "Privileged individual" - Never done a normal days work in his life (unless he had a paper round - he didn't btw).

After leaving education he "worked" for the countess toff Harriet Harman (you remember; her husband got through an All Woman shortlist to a safe Labour seat) and then onwards representing not one single working class person in this country.

His mother's tax avoidance - She transferred the property to her sons to avoid paying inheritance tax when she passed away.

If it wasn't for tax reasons why else would she do it? No one would.

It's a straightforward tax avoidance scam and for someone who aspires to govern this country it's disgraceful.

Next you'll be telling me he went on an anti cuts rally and made a speech at the weekend...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJRjJjlkbRM

Thu, 2011-03-31 14:27 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

@george: Quite good poem. rather cynical but its funny.

Sun, 2011-04-03 17:01 — Robert Taggart

Ed Balls - why does he continue to throw stones in his conservatory ? !

Tue, 2011-03-29 20:03 — Luddite (not verified)

Ed Balls looks permanently angry, Ed Miliband clueless. Why don't we just accept we don't have a winning combination. Ed Balls is stained with past-failure. Ed Miliband is controlled by vested interests in the form of the public-sector unions. The coalition will make the painful, but necessary decisions for sustainable economic recovery. Labour would not. It's all about trust. Many don't like the nasty party but trust it more then the incompetent one.

Thu, 2011-03-31 23:08 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

Emperor Nero did try and educate the Roman masses. Unfortunately, they preferred 'blood and guts' to poetry readings and art. He was also the last of his line.
Boris is trying his best to make the bankers popular - fiddling while London burns with indignation.

What's this about history turning tragedy into comedy?

Bread and Circuses

Tue, 2011-03-29 20:41 — matthew fox (not verified)

Ed Balls would need to lessons in being angry from Luddite inorder to be permanently angry.

Ed Balls probably gets angry when he see's unemployment continuing to rise.

Wed, 2011-03-30 19:41 — matthew fox (not verified)

@ Anon E Mouse

Welcome to NS and I hope it is your last visit.

If you swing by Leftfootforward, you will see Anon E Mouse unique commentary and hissy fits with Will Straw.

On the " I Hate Ed Miliband " scale he's at defcon 3, verbally abusive, prone to irrational outbursts and known to throw his teddy at Mach 3.

Tue, 2011-03-29 20:47 — oliver (not verified)

Ed face leadership challenge by this time next year? I'll put a tenner on it.

Tue, 2011-03-29 21:25 — mcquade

"Ed Balls looks permanently angry"

Hogwash, Luddite. You should watch how much Osborne's incompetence and economic illiteracy makes him laugh and smile.

Tue, 2011-03-29 21:29 — mcquade

Mehdi, shame his comments on Osborne and cost of military action won't make it. Osborne claiming to know how much it will cost shows his political immaturity as well as his defensiveness.
And it would be good to have a quote from Balls on the credit card hogwash.

Fri, 2011-04-01 00:53 — Seaman T

Never underestimate the clowns, mate.
And another thing. I only got sucked in to this site to answer the question in the email that said "Who are the English?" Well there's Mehdi Hassan, Boris Johnson, George Gideon Osbourne, the Milliband boys and quite a few others, too numerous to mention without a full census. But why do you ask? Is it relevant to anything?

Tue, 2011-03-29 21:35 — Tom Paine (not verified)

I gather that is is acceptable for Balls to make personal attacks on Johnson but not Johnson on Balls.

Very understandable.

Wed, 2011-07-06 08:18 — Anthony2

Labour should be honest enough to say if it had being re-elected it to would be doing much the same in order to balance the books. Ed Balls was partly responsible for letting the deficit get out of control. http://www.trainingforcnacertification.org/cna-training-in-arizona/

Tue, 2011-03-29 22:04 — Luddite (not verified)

Our cupboard is bare, save for those wild fantasists on the political-left. Labour should be honest enough to say if it had being re-elected it to would be doing much the same in order to balance the books. Ed Balls was partly responsible for letting the deficit get out of control. Foxy!! I don't think Osborne needs to take any economic lesson from Mr angry!!

Sat, 2011-04-02 01:19 — dillon (not verified)

i thought boris was very metro dynamic last night on question time,,that man deserves to be on question time every week,,he is a genius...

Tue, 2011-03-29 22:15 — WTF (not verified)

our cupboard is bare!?!?!...so what we fighting this war with, monopoly money? mojo chews? cooper pennies from an oversized whiskey bottle?

Tue, 2011-03-29 22:20 — WTF (not verified)

Maybe David Cameron should wank tramps for pennies then that will be the security at the Royal Wedding sorted. Take a few X-Box games down to game station and take the cash as opposed to the part-exchange, that’s the security for the Olympics sorted...and so on.

Fri, 2011-04-01 03:53 — George Fripley (not verified)

Thanks Mr Devine, much appreciated...I have to admit to a fair degree of cynicism and I am waiting for governments to prove me wrong.

Tue, 2011-03-29 22:53 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

There's nothing wrong with being a buffoon. I should know.

Wed, 2011-03-30 00:13 — 28daysearlier (not verified)

"We got drunk, trashed the Ritz & then went down Piccadilly to loot a few items from Fortnums"
.
Boris Johnson Autobiography in reference to the Bullingdon Club 1986.