Ed Balls, more than anyone else in the Commons, is closely associated with Brownian (dis)economics and, as Brown’s adviser, encouraged the debt-fuelled economic boom and bust that we are now suffering…
Some time back I observed,
Even more pleasurable on these percentages on Electoral Calculus is the suggestion that Ed “So What?” Balls could lose his (new) Morley & Outwood seat to the Conservatives (‘Were you up for Balls?’ could be a common question in the future…
And now the Conservatives in the constituency have announced that they are targeting the seat (hat tip: Conservative Home).
The Tories had a 26-point opinion poll lead in the heady days of Crewe & Nantwich, but they could regain an impressive poll lead if they can raise their game on the economy (and, particularly, as I argued in my previous post, taxation).
What is important in Morley & Outwood, as well as the national picture, is that they choose an excellent candidate (which the open primary – that I saw beautifully take place in Wolverhampton SW with the selection of its next Conservative MP and future Cabinet Member Paul Uppal - will facilitate) and run an effective local campaign. I believe they can do this and could beat Balls. That would make the next general election a night to remember. So what?
Mountjoy
Morley Boy said
I reckon Balls could be as good as dead in the water to be honest. There is a wide perception that he is a bad constituency MP. So much so that he did an article in today’s Wakefield paper to try and counter the story. He is apparently immensely unpopular in the Wakefield part of the seat which is a Tory stronghold.
I think Balls could be in trouble if the local Tories have a real go at him
Mountjoy said
Balls is the man who advised Brown on the economic policy which caused the Brown boom and the Brown bust. He must be very vulnerable, just like Lamont was in Harrogate & Knaresborough.