The Sunday Times has got Balls

A day late with this, but still quivering with delight at the downfall of Ed Balls in yesterday's Sunday Times. Splendid leading article, too. If the allegations that he is the sinister black arts meister at the rotten heart of Downing St are false, let him sue. Sir Compton bets he won't. Politicians who sue very often come to grief, and he has troubles enough, what with would-be assassins facing him across the Cabinet table and the prospect of campaigning in a new seat (hat-tip Foolish Interruption) made doubly difficult. In sum, this is a case of an unpopular and odious politician letting himself get more unpopular and more odious.

What beats me is why he ever thought he had a chance of being leader. Put aside the slimetastic personality for a moment and consider the surname. It will hold him back in the way being called Portillo held back (there were other issues) another politician of another party in a slightly earlier age. Is that fair? Probably not, but remember please that it is the politicians rather than the voters, or even the media, who decide how this game should be played. As they spin so shall they reap. Balls far more odious even than Osborne, the slimiest of those on the Tory side. Though once in office, who knows how the Tories will behave? One hopes that it will be with a little more decorum and an eye to restoring to politics the notion that it is, or should be, public discourse about competing ideas.

I bet Yvette, herself insufferably ambitious, gave him six nil in the lugholes when the papers arrived on their doorstep. What a marvellously well matched couple they are.

One final point. The next time you hear some Labourite complaining about Tory toffery and advantage, remind him or her that Mr Balls attended an independent school in Nottingham and was a member of the Conservative Association while at Oxford (so he could hear all the speeches, he says); that Ruth Kelly is an old girl of Westminster School and several other independent establishments; that Harriet Harman went to St Paul's Girls School; that James Purnell attended the private Royal Grammar School, Guildford; that Jack Straw went to boarding school; that Hilary Benn went to Westminster prep; that Geoff Hoon went to the same school as Mr Balls. This is a partial culling of facts from Wiki meant to illustrate a point. Many other ministers went to comprehensives - famously the Milibands and indeed Benn himself, who was transferred to Holland Park.

Bored of this game now. Check out the others yerselves.