Is Ed Balls the day’s big loser?
Even his wife is getting a promotion
This was the day, surely, when Ed Balls was supposed to have reinforced his case to be Brown’s successor through being appointed to one of the three main offices of state.
A month ago the Home Office was being talked about and he became strong favourite on the betting markets. Then last weekend the big news was that he was going to take over at the Treasury from Alistair Darling.
Well neither of those eventualities is happening. Balls is still a big player but his great mentor, Gord, has not felt strong enough to give him one of the top jobs.
At the same time all the talk is of his wife, Yvette Cooper – one of the declining band of women in Brown’s team – being given a bigger role.
Ed ain’t going to be happy.