Friday, May 08, 2015

Did Labour hatred of the Lib Dems cost Ed Balls his career?

Atul Hatwal from Labour Uncut asked a good question.

Several Liberal Democrats tweeted yesterday evening that Labour activists were delighted when the Tories defeated a Liberal Democrat minister.

Well, we all get excited at counts, but this does rather suggest that Labour's hatred of us Lib Dems was warping their judgement.

Could it be that they got so excited by the prospect of defeating Nick Clegg that they neglected Ed Balls seat elsewhere in Yorkshire?

This would have been foolish both because Labour does not win seats like Sheffield Hallam and because there was speculation back in 2010 that Ed Balls could be vulnerable in Morley and Outwood.
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3 comments:

  1. Phil Beesley08 May, 2015 22:05

    There is always the possibility that Ed Balls annoyed enough people in his own party.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Laura Gordon08 May, 2015 22:23

    James Graham makes the same point here: http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/

    ReplyDelete
  3. crewegwyn10 May, 2015 17:36

    Never underestimate the ability of Labour to campaign badly, especially when personalities and hatreds are involved.

    ReplyDelete