Fraser Nelson Fraser Nelson

Can Ed Balls really crow about the downgrade?

As George Osborne digests the news of the Moody’s downgrade, he can thank his lucky stars for Ed Balls. The Shadow Chancellor’s statement, just released, neatly illustrates why he is the single biggest obstacle to Labour’s regaining economic credibility:-

“George Osborne said keeping the credit rating was the key goal of his economic policy. As his economic plan has floundered, it has been the last thing he has clung on to. And bizarrely his response tonight suggests he is not reflecting on why things have gone so badly wrong, but using this downgrade as one more reason to plough on with his failing plan – regardless of the damaging impact on struggling families and businesses.

Bizarre? Not nearly as bizarre as responding to the Moody’s downgrade by borrowing-and-spending even more – which is Balls’ proposed solution to this (and every other) problem.

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