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Ed Balls and civil liberties

What does this appointment show about Ed Miliband's commitment to a liberal approach?

By David Allen Green Published 08 October 2010 15:45

The appointment of Ed Balls as shadow Home Secretary is remarkable and disappointing, for it appears only explicable in terms of Ed Miliband seeking to marginalise an internal party rival.

Last week I wrote that Miliband's leadership speech made the right noises about civil liberties and human rights.

But the first real test of this commitment seems to have been flunked. Balls voted strongly for ID cards and, as Education Secretary, promoted surveillance and database policies with far more enthusiasm than his job required.

One can see why Miliband wanted to keep Balls from the shadow chancellorship. One can also see why the success of Yvette Cooper required her to have one of the top shadow cabinet positions.

But this appointment -- on the basis of Balls' record to date -- does not indicate a serious commitment by the new Labour leader to reversing his party's post-2001 position as the illiberal party in UK politics.

Perhaps Balls will prove this indication wrong.

For there can be no doubt that the Coalition needs to be attacked from the left on a range of Home Office matters.

David Allen Green is a lawyer and writer. He blogs for the New Statesman on legal and policy matters.

Tags: Shadow Cabinet

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9 comments

Fri, 2010-10-08 15:56 — Eric (not verified)

The best thing Ed Ball can do is make a statement that ID Cards were wrong and the intrusion of the State into the people's lives was both unwanted and unwarranted. If Ed can't reflect on his past mistakes, he has no chance to persuade anyone to vote for Labour.

Fri, 2010-10-08 16:03 — qilei6ug9

I know it won't make me popular with all the middle-class champagne socialists who read this website, but having a tough position on crime is essential for Labour. The people whose lives are ruined by crime are those on working class estates, natural supporters of the party who we've been doing our best to alienate over the last 15 years.

But Ed M seems to be all over the place. Why on earth make a speech at conference saying you're not going to attack the coalition from the right on crime, and then appoint Ed Balls as shadow home secretary?

Fri, 2010-10-08 16:11 — CharlieLoveday (not verified)

Well said Albie!

Fri, 2010-10-08 16:14 — swatantra

Albie makes a really important point. The daily misery endured and suffered by ordinary people out there by petty criminals and antisocial behaviour yobs and louts seems to have passed the Labour heirachy by. Its about time they took this more seriously and made it a top priority. Hopefully Ed Balls will and do us all a real favour.

Fri, 2010-10-08 16:23 — Gordian (not verified)

And there lies the problem, equating being strong on civil liberties with soft on crime. ID Cards, Contact Point and the creation of wastefully bullying empire building quango's like CEOP and the YJB just made Labour look to have disregard for the normal protections of British law. This appointment is damaging and hard to credit. Labour needs a heart right now and fewer pragmatists thanks.

Fri, 2010-10-08 17:11 — Dominic2

Most people in working class housing estates don't want a government tough on crime in the Tory/Mail sense ie more invasive policing, profiling, longer sentences etc etc but would prefer more investment in their communities and an emphasis on rehabilitation.
Toxteth, Liverpool

Fri, 2010-10-08 17:31 — foowzkaa

@Dominic "Most people in working class housing estates don't want a government tough on crime in the Tory/Mail sense ie more invasive policing, profiling, longer sentences etc etc but would prefer more investment in their communities and an emphasis on rehabilitation."

Correct. (I was brought up on Birmingham council estates.)

Sat, 2010-10-09 16:58 — Ayse Veli (not verified)

I am so glad that EdM has assigned EdB as Shadow Home Secretary. This job needs someone with the equal flair of sensitivity, assertiveness, awareness and toughness. Ed B is going to be a top notch Shadow Home Sec & I'm looking forward to Balls v May