Balls on emailgate

There was an edge of discomfort in Ed Balls’ voice as he discussed emailgate on Radio Four just now.

Initially the Children's Secretary comfortably walked in line – branding Damian McBride’s behaviour as inexcusable – but it wasn’t such a stroll when discussing his knowledge of the former special advisor’s activity.

He tried two diversionary tactics – firstly trying to shift the focus of the interview by criticising the fact that offending e-mails had been published by the media.

It didn’t last because Naughtie rightly pointed out that if the story hadn’t come out the behaviour would have continued.

He then tried a direct attack on blogs, claiming he and his wife had been subject to defamatory comments on the web and naming Guy Fawkes’ blog in particular.

In the end, predictably, all he would say of emailgate is that all parties had to “look in upon themselves” and change the way politics is done.

In truth Balls will feel the loss of McBride a little more keenly than other senior Labour figures – many of whom have been the target of attacks.

McBride’s bullish talents would have been at the behest of Balls in a post-Brown leadership contest.