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Ed Balls bust up with the BBC…

By Angela Harbutt
December 10th, 2009 at 7:46 am | 7 Comments | Posted in UK Politics

I am not sure whether Ed Balls got out of bed the wrong side yesterday morning, was just a bit “interviewed out”, or whether he was…as it sounded…revealing his true colours – a bully who knows the cause is lost and hopes that by throwing his weight about on BBC radio,  he can somehow influence media reporting.

I caught the most bizarre interview about the PBR late yesterday afternoon. And as interesting as any analysis of the PBR might be…I think this one interview says more about the Labour party and its ministers than any learned tome on the substance of the chancellors plans ever could…

You see what I heard was a Government minister come as close as I have heard in a very long time to threatening , albeit obliquely, the BBC. 

And…. full marks to Peter Allen (BBC Radio Five Live Drive) for standing up to him. There will always be a difficulty for any modern state broadcaster (even in a so-called free society) in “taking on” the ruling powers. And,  noting my many previous criticisms of the BBC,  I have to say the BBC did that and did it well –

despite immense provocation… including several pronouncements  from Ed Balls (to a BBC journalist) as to how he (the state broadcaster) and his employers should behave.

Unsurprisingly…. Peter Allen won outright. No question. Bullying may work elsewhere – and may have worked in the past – but frankly…..Alistair Campbell he aint.  And if there really is anyone in control of the Labour Party (ha!) …they will take Bully Boy Balls to one side and tell him just how monumentally he f*cked up yesterday.

Editors notes. The full interview was approx 2 minutes longer than shown here. I have edited out the ministers statements about how wonderful the Labour party has been over the last decade and in particular how it has saved the country over the last 18 months. I think you have heard it all before … but if you want to hear the whole interview (including all of Ed Balls contributions) then please go to  BBC iplayer  here where you can listen to all of the interview for yourself…it was broadcast approx 18.08 (i.e. 2hrs 8mins into broadcast).

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Only muppets or puppets need apply

By Angela Harbutt
October 31st, 2009 at 2:11 am | Comments Off on Only muppets or puppets need apply | Posted in UK Politics

the next head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs?Following the news earlier this evening that the “Drug Tsar” Prof David Nutt has been sacked for…. well…. speaking the truth, and Alex Wilcock’s excellent observation that only liars need now apply for the newly vacated post,  I am left wondering just how brazenly totalitarian this government can get?

And I know that people can get hot under the collar about the misuse of words such as “totalitarian” . So be clear. I do not use that particular word lightly. We are witnessing political authority attempting to exercise absolute and centralized control over every aspect  of our lives. We, the people, are subordinate to the state. Dissent is demonstrably being suppressed. If that is not the definition of totalitarian – then someone please explain what is.

Today it’s the head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs being summarily sacked because the authorities did not like the findings of his research. And when they ignored/distorted that evidence-based advise, he refused to keep silent, and was dimissed.

It was just a couple of  weeks ago that we saw Ed Ball’s dismissing the Commons cross-party select committee conclusion to reject the appointment of  Maggie Atkinson as England’s next children’s commissioner. Why did they reject her? Because We just didn’t think she had the independence of mind to stand up to a secretary of state who loves to get his own way”. Needless to say Mr Ball’s stuck two fingers up to the committee and appointed her anyway. 

I hesitate to raise the question of what really happened to David Kelly when he crossed the government. Perhaps, as posted earlier on this site, Professor Nutt should consider himself lucky that it was just a sacking.

As for the rest of us – we will have to take everything the government, or it’s so-called experts, says with an even bigger pinch of salt. Or actually just assume it’s a lie. That’s probably the safest bet here on in.

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Brown’s biggest balls up yet

By Angela Harbutt
May 31st, 2009 at 6:01 pm | 2 Comments | Posted in UK Politics

brown-and-mandelson-2

Vince Cable must think that Christmas is about to come early for him. It would seem that Gordon Brown wants to make Ed Balls the new chancellor in the up-coming reshuffle.

When we all finish rolling around the floor laughing, we should maybe ask the question “why have his advisors in the bunker not told him the sheer lunacy of the action”?  

Pick one of the following.

1. There is no one in the bunker stupid.

2. They were too scared they would be shot.

3. They did but Gordon was in the corner,hands over ears, shouting “la la la la I’m not listening”.

4. They thought Ed Balls was as good as a cyanide capsule and probably for the best.

5. He They have annointed Ed Balls as the next leader & want to raise his profile.

I personally favour answer 4, though in the mad world of Labour-land i dont rule out 5 (Pete and Ed do now sit next to each other in Cabinet after all).

If reports are true, then after some arse-saving warning about “the potential dangers” involved ( erm yeah..), Lord Mandelson has said he is ready to support the move as part of a final attempt to revive goverment’s fortunes” . Please note the word “final”. 

Another question for you. Is Mr Mandelson..

1. Sitting there head in hands, wondering where it all went wrong

2. On the phone to Mr Johnson as we speak

3. On the phone to Ed Balls as we speak

4. Still deciding which horse to back (we know he likes to leave it late).

I dont know either, though I’m pretty certain it’s not answer 1.

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TORYGRAPH SPILL ON BALLS! Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper in expenses revelation

By Julian Harris
May 15th, 2009 at 10:20 am | 1 Comment | Posted in Uncategorized

balls

The adorable couple have, apparently, been flipping homes like nobody’s business.

“We paid for their million pound property portfolio” says Guido.

In just one term of Parliament, the couple have claimed (according to my hurried and admittedly flawed mental arithmetic) £102,000 in “second home” claims alone.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE, CLICK HERE FOR MORE

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Friday Fright Live?

By Angela Harbutt
May 14th, 2009 at 7:47 pm | 2 Comments | Posted in UK Politics

Blinky Balls

Can it be true ? There are suggestions that Ed Balls and Ms Cooper may be the Telegraph’s headliners tomorrow.

But they will surely sleep soundly. As New Labour have told us a million times “nothing to hide, nothing to fear” .

Update. Clare Short on front page of Telegraph website…… how long can this strip tease go on – and just what is the finale ?

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