Ed Balls was in good form at last night's Labour leadership hustings at the TUC conference, producing a string of jokes which rather suggested that he thinks the contest is all over as far as he's concerned.
"I asked my office," he said, "why I'd got fewer volunteers this week. And they said they'd all gone back to school."
"Not primary school, I hope," shot back his rival Ed Miliband.
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I'm Michael Crick, and I'm Newsnight's political editor. My guiding rule is that in any story there's usually something the politicians would prefer the world not to know. My job is to find that out. Follow me on
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Comment number 1.
At 14th Sep 2010, barriesingleton wrote:A MATTER OF AURA
Even the mass of people who had no idea Blair was dodgy, can FEEL Ed Balls' unsuitability for office.
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Comment number 2.
At 14th Sep 2010, Isatou wrote:I didn't know he had a sense of humour.
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Comment number 3.
At 14th Sep 2010, Dave Bogg wrote:He's got something about him.If he became the leader I would rejoin the party.
Reminds me of a Ken Clarke figure.Solid on political economy. Not to be messed with. But can relax too.
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Comment number 4.
At 19th Sep 2010, queenarumlily wrote:Out of all the candidates the one that I trust the most is Ed Miliband. He doesn`t rely on soundbites. After watching Question Time I really didn`t like Andy Burnham`s rudeness when he talked over other candidates when they were answering questions. His leaflets have soundbites such as `Aspirational Socialism`, a little too Blairite for my taste. I don`t feel that Ed Balls is right for the job. When he was on This Week being asked questions by a professional interviewer he found it difficult to answer a lot of the questions. he may have a good sense of humour but a leader needs more substance. Diane Abbott has never held any kind of ministerial post so lacks experience, she only stood because she wanted to give voters in the Labour Party an alternative. David Miliband, whilst he is very good, has Tony Blair`s support which seems to me to be the kiss of death as far as I`m concerned. Ed Miliband has new ideas & a strong conviction in how the Labour Party should go forward, not forgeting Labour`s values. My 2nd choice would be David Miliband. Another point in Ed Miliband`s favour is the Prince of Darkness, Lord Mandelson, doesn`t want him as leader for the reasons that I do want him as leader.
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