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Tory mayor is a big risk for City says Balls
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor18.04.08
Cabinet minister Ed Balls today warned that the election of Boris Johnson would be a "major risk" for the City of London and the capital's economy in general.
The Schools Secretary and former City minister declared that the Tory candidate for Mayor had no track record in managing big budgets and could be "duped" by private sector negotiators for Crossrail and other major transport projects.
Speaking alongside Ken Livingstone for the first time on the campaign trail, Mr Balls also said he worried about Mr Johnson's ability to "fight hard" for Londoners in negotiations with the Treasury.
Mr Balls said that even some of Mr Johnson's supporters in the City were "publicly and privately" worried about his ability to manage City Hall's £11 billion budget and the huge transport projects for which the Mayor was responsibly.
"Boris Johnson would be a major risk for the economy and the City of London because decisions taken by the Mayor on planning and transport are crucial to the financial services of this capital.
"If you get those decisions wrong, if you negotiate a bad deal, if you can't make your sums add up, if you get duped by wily private sector negotiators, then that will be a disaster," he said.
Mr Balls said that when he was City minister he was impressed that in the capital, and whenever he travelled abroad, Mr Livingstone was regarded as a tough negotiator and ambassador for London.
"Boris Johnson has no serious experience or track record of managing substantial budgets or any previous commitment to this city. London is doing very well right now, but New York, Frankfurt, Mumbai and other cities are looking all the time at how to exploit any advantage and are looking at every issue.
"London cannot afford to make any mistakes." Mr Balls conceded that when he had been Gordon Brown's chief economic adviser at the Treasury in Labour's first two terms, Mr Livingstone had often been at odds with the government.
"But I can tell you we never came across a tougher negotiator at the Treasury than Ken Livingstone.
"In my seven or eight years at the Treasury, particularly on the Tube, we knew Ken was the person who was going to fight his corner hardest."
The minister had joined the Mayor in Camberwell to unveil a new £80million pledge to provide extra youth facilities to keep young people off the streets and away from crime.
Mr Balls, speaking at the Hollington Club for Young People, endorsed Mr Livingstone's promise to fund youth clubs, sports schools, music studios and "safe places" to keep teenagers off the streets.
The Government has already given City Hall some £79 million to fund such facilities over the next two years.
The Mayor announced today that he would find a similar amount from his own budget to keep facilities going for a further two years, until 2012.
The pledge, which will be paid for by the London Development Agency, means that nearly £160 million will be spent on youth activities throughout a Livingstone third term if he wins. In a clear indication of how seriously the Government is treating the mayoral race, Mr Balls is the third Cabinet minister in five days to appear alongside Mr Livingstone on the stump, after Gordon Brown and David Miliband.
Reader views (28)
Balls? 'So weak!'
- Mr C, London, UK
Balls is not a London citizen. I am and I like Boris a lot - we need to bring back fun into London! No more Nu Labor I say.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
What a load of Ed. This chap has never had a proper job and as he is too busy licking Brown's boots these days his opinions are worthless
- Pete, Barry Wales
How on earth would Ed Balls know what Boris' supporters are thinking whether publicly or privately? This just proves that the man's surname is entirely apt. This is so hypocritical, the Labour cabinet have made it so clear they don't like Ken but have finally realised that if Ken loses Labour will be losing too. Incidentally please can we have a caption competition for the photo accompanying the above article?
- Sj, London
Isn't the the Ed Balls who until recently was at the Treasury? Was he not there when there was that problem with Metronet and public private partnerships generally, the continued prevarication about Crossrail. I guess I don't have to mention that under this government we have a recession pending. Bring on the Tories for God's sake. Someone with some sense can advise Boris. I don't think Ken still knows much about finances after two terms.
- Ladywholunches, London
Any support from Ed Balls is welcome...will ensure that Livingstone is defeated!
- John Bush, London, UK
Ed "No" Balls should leave politics. To succeed, you need to be popular and competent. He is neither.
- Andy Balls, Notts
So, ken Livingstone has the support of the aptly named Ed balls --- What more needs to be said?
- Jonathan Ryan, London UK
Id be scared if this paper or this forum truly represented Londoners views.
We will see...
- Sean, London
'so what' or 'so weak'
The danger of the incumbents is worse.
- Time For A Change, London
I knew Ken was desperate for support, but Ed Balls ?
Oh dear!
- Neil Grinsell, London
So who next is going to come out with this tripe?
Ed Balls could not run a whelk stall as he so neatly proves as a terrible schools minister. He really should shut up.
- Richard, Cambridge
Is this the famous Mister Ed, the talking horse?
He certainly sounds like it, if he really thinks anyone is going to believe that rubbish.
You only have to look at the way Labour have handled our economy over the last 11 years, from one that is thriving, to the one we have today, which is frightening.
- Peter Thurgood, London, UK
Of course. ED is one of the two balls who is ripping off tax payers by shamelessly and dishonestly claiming maximum expenses on the same house he shares with his mistress.
Boris may be a risk but at least he is not an expenses cheat and I cannot wait for 1st May to vote for him.
- C Laird, Woodford Green
One trough-feeder supporting another, they've both done very well out of us.
- Crafte, London, England
Whoever takes any notice of Ed Balls, who has become a liability to Brown and the Government with his hasty and ludicrous comments on various things recently? With various lightweight young members of Labour backing the old mayor every day, you get the feeling real desperation is setting in. Or are they just waiting for their chance to oust Gordon Brown?
- Patrick, Wandsworth, England
Please do a caption competition for that photo. What a pair of losers.
- Lou, London
So what Balls. This coming from the man who has presided the greatest squandering of taxpayers in history. This is the man who squandered GBP 4 Billion by selling gold at the bottom of the market. This is the man who's tax credit system has lost countless billions in fraud. Never mind the IT systems that never work and so forth. And then we have Ken the cost of whom has increased by 300% since he entered office. Yes great work. The only think that Labour negotiates well on are its personal expenses and jobs for the boys.
- Simon, London
The laughable Ed Balls. In the words of Mandy Rice-Davies, "He would say that - wouldn't he?"
- Don Hewitson, London WC2
"Tory mayor is a big risk for City says Balls"
As opposed to having an idiot in a cabinet role, someone who rather than answering a direct question insults the person asking the question, someone who shouts "so what" when someone accuses the government of having a huge tax burden. I'd rather Boris thanks, he may speak his mind but at least he has one.
- Arthur Streeb-Greebling, Purley
"endorsed Mr Livingstone's promise to fund youth clubs, sports schools, music studios and "safe places" to keep teenagers off the streets."
He's had eight years and billions of pounds to spend, he chose not to spend in on any of those things, until the election campaign when his majority looked uncertain.
- Sarah N, London
Is this the same Mr Balls who together with his wife do so very well out of House of Commons expenses - which we fund.
- Jeremy E, London UK
Ed Balls supports Ken? Right - If ever there was a stronger reason to vote for anyone but Ken, I haven't heard it.
- David, Cambridge, UK
Yes a fund to support voluntary organisations supporting young Londoners is a fine idea. It is Boris's idea and he has been promoting it for weeks now with Shaun Bailey, who runs and promotes voluntary groups for deprived youngsters, amongst others. Once again Ken is stealing Boris's policies. He admitted he would weeks ago. Boris is generating the new ideas here.
We need to change society in London from the bottom up, through voluntary organisations, communities and families. This is clearly a conservative policy. But Ken will do anything to stay in power.
- Tim For Change, London, UK
Is this not another instance of Labour breaking pre-election rules? Why are they announcing this now? They must think we are all stupid.
- Beatriz, London
Ed Balls a "Labour big gun". More like a Labour spud gun.
- Jimbob, Kensington
Ha ha. If Ken thinks Ed Balls is going to help his campaign then he can think again - the man who says 'so what' to the ever increasing tax burden in this country. Ken must be totally desperate to parade him around.
Go Boris.
- Emma, Dulwich, London
This Is London readers are tired of Ken Livingstone's pre-election "hot-air" pledges that are never followed-though on
The scam has been used before and Londoners are now wise to his underhand tricks.
Let's face it it's high time we had a "new face" in our Mayor's office and at least any new person will at least "try" to give it a go! I doubt nothing can be much worse that what we've got at present!
Finally, what's the latest on all of Ken Livingstone's impending court cases following all of the sleaze allegations (donations etc)?
- Fraser, Telford Park
