Len McCluskey: Ed Balls’s long speech was good in parts

One thing that made Ed Balls’ speech to conference look a little less impressive was the barnstormer of an address from Len McCluskey to the hall shortly before. Delegates loved it, and not just because the Unite leader was saying the sorts of things that they wanted to hear. He was also passionate and interesting. He deservedly received the first proper standing ovation of the week.

So what did McCluskey think of the speech that followed from Ed Balls? I caught up with the union boss afterwards, and he managed some faint praise:

‘Well, I think it was a long speech, and it was a very embracing speech, and I thought in parts it was a good speech. Ed’s in a difficult situation, on the one hand, he has to respond to the fact that according to the poll, people are concerned about the economic credibility of the Labour party but on the other hand he’s got to make certain that we present a vision of what Labour stand for and how they will change Britain.