Ed Balls

Dad, cook, pianist, drummer, Good Morning Britain, Political Currency, King’s College Ldn, Holocaust Fdn co-Chair, NCFC, retired dancer, former Cabinet Minister

[Ed Balls @edballs]

Our fourth Harvard-Kings paper on regional growth - a decidedly mixed stocktake of progress over the last two years, plus what the new Prime Minister needs to do to revive the growth agenda - is out today. Dan has done a great thread with a link to the paper at the top:

[Dan Turner @DanTurnerTweets]

Two years ago Labour promised a “devolution revolution” to drive growth. Today, with @edballs, Nyasha Weinberg, @annastansbury and @ElsdenEsme, we publish our verdict: a government at risk of squandering the best opportunity in a generation. A🧵 https://t.co/JB0lV0eSPF

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

“Burnham’s plan was torpedoed by yours truly.”

Ed and George reflect on all the failed attempts to solve social care, and George recalls how he destroyed Andy Burnham’s last attempt

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/xsLgHRZQHk

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

🎙️ NEW episode of Political Currency…

🗳️ Is Burnham actually preparing for an early election?
🏥 Can any PM solve the social care crisis?
💵 Why the Fed matters for your mortgage...

🎧 LISTEN NOW: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

“It’s a much hated job.”

George Osborne asks: is John Healey really ready to take on the unpopular role of a Labour chancellor? He cites the trials of his predecessors, while Ed Balls praises Healey’s ‘political touch’.

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/u7dVfsBx0w

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/3l3sRdmHez

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

“From Foreign Secretary to Health Secretary.”

After Yvette Cooper was moved from the Foreign Office to the Health Department in Andy Burnham’s reshuffle, Ed Balls reveals the realities of this change.

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/xsLgHRZQHk

[Ed Balls @edballs]

Revealing and thought-provoking @freedland column today - with a great plug and link for our Harvard-Kings regional growth work @danturnertweets @annastansbury https://t.co/ZmfQCyWetL

[Robert Peston @Peston]

As @andyburnham launches No10 North and pledges to devolve much more power to mayors and mayoral authorities, @edballs et al hold his feet to the fire, as they tried to do with Starmer’s government but saw early good intentions fizzle

https://t.co/p6yl8WZgp1

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

“John Healey is not a Wes Streeting”

In this week’s episode, Ed Balls reflects on his time working with John Healey in the Treasury and how these skills will shape him as Chancellor. He argues his communication style and views on the fiscal rules have earned him the top job.

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/u7dVfsBx0w 

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/Avj40HXSKj

[Dan Tomlinson MP @dantomlinsonmp]

Agreed.

And, more broadly, working with Mayors to make sure we get funding & powers in the right hands to improve transport in cities is one of the most important things we can do to grow our economy.

This top paper from @edballs, @annastansbury and @DanTurnerTweets is convincing on this and provides a good summary of the other binding constraints on regionally balanced UK growth.

I will be printing the paper out and pointing to its various charts in many meetings in the coming months.

https://t.co/sr8NtY718y

[Dan Turner @DanTurnerTweets]

As part of our Harvard-KCL project, we interviewed incoming Chancellor John Healey for his thoughts on regional growth and devolution as it was shaping up under the last government. Read it here 👇https://t.co/wSqVlRb1cK @edballs

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

“They’re not all incompetent or stupid”

As Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street tomorrow, George Osborne and Ed Balls discuss why the UK has lost another PM and how to protect Starmer’s legacy.

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h 

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/UsNKpKNSyh

[Ed Balls @edballs]

Excellent interview on our regional growth papers by @DanTurnerTweets on @BBCr4today at 07-25 this morning - see his thread below - and our papers on the UK growth challenge here: https://t.co/WO4ju2dzPe

[Dan Turner @DanTurnerTweets]

@edballs @annastansbury

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

🎙️ NEW episode of Political Currency…

🚓 The MPs that should get security
⚠️ Why Burnham government could fall apart
⬅️ Will Starmer and Reeves be remembered?

🎧 LISTEN NOW: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h

[The Strand Group @thestrandgroup]

Nice mention in @spectator of our recent @KingsCollegeLon event with @edballs @michaelgove @KiMcGuinness @nickmacpherson2 & @AngelaRayner.

Join us in 2026: https://t.co/miwMU48989

[Prof David Bailey @dgbailey]

@edballs @andyburnham @DanTurnerTweets @annastansbury @ElsdenEsme Read it here in @cssjournal1 in a blockbuster special issue on levelling up: https://t.co/pYHeJWBsCy

[Michael Gove @michaelgove]

A superb paper

[Dan Turner @DanTurnerTweets]

Two years ago Labour promised a “devolution revolution” to drive growth. Today, with @edballs, Nyasha Weinberg, @annastansbury and @ElsdenEsme, we publish our verdict: a government at risk of squandering the best opportunity in a generation. A🧵 https://t.co/JB0lV0eSPF

[Ed Balls @edballs]

The last two years have been a missed opportunity on regional growth: our Harvard-Kings paper sets out why; and what @andyburnham needs to do differently to deliver the growth the UK needs.. @DanTurnerTweets @annastansbury @ElsdenEsme Nyasha Weinberg
https://t.co/JX5WUxvxe7

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

"If he's elected as a bin, he can speak as a bin."

Can Count Binface beat Farage in Clacton? Ed Balls and George Osborne believe the anti-Reform sentiment and success of previous joke candidates mean he could be in with a chance…

🎧 LISTEN: https://t.co/u7dVfsBx0w

🖥️WATCH: https://t.co/Avj40HXSKj

[Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business & Government @HarvardBizGov]

Two years after Labour's 2024 pledge for a "devolution revolution," questions remain about whether bold ambitions for regional growth and economic rebalancing are being delivered, or are risks being missed. As Andy Burnham puts the North and regional development at the heart of his leadership bid, can the UK finally close the gap? Explore our assessment and future recommendations in our latest working paper co-authored by M-RCBG Research Fellow @EdBalls. https://t.co/kJBvIphgPN

[Political Currency @polcurrency]

🎙️ NEW episode of Political Currency…

🌹 The Labour insiders worried about Burnham
🗑️ Could Binface beat Farage?
🧰 Gove endorses Rayner for chancellor

🎧 LISTEN NOW: https://t.co/9qA6ffpP8h