He's got big balls, I'll give him that.

Edward Michael Balls tells us that the economic policy he supported as a cabinet minister was a mistake.

Cuts pledge was a mistake - Ed Balls

Labour leadership hopeful Ed Balls has said he believes it was a "mistake" for Labour to promise to halve the deficit in four years by cutting spending.

He told the BBC News Channel he "didn't think it could have been done" but had accepted "collective responsibility" when Labour was in government.

Mr Balls has previously said it "made no sense" for Labour not to rule out raising VAT ahead of the election.

He was Gordon Brown's chief economic adviser for his 10 years as chancellor.

Happily using the idea of collective responsibility as though he was some kind of junior member and not instrumental in forming policy. Undoubtebly taking credit when it suits his agenda.

Oh! And this:

In the interview Mr Balls also said it was "not true" he had briefed against other MPs and had "no time for that sort of nasty politics".

Hahahaha.