I thought you might like to know about a live online Q&A session at 5.30pm today with our revered Schools Secretary, Ed Balls. It's hosted by the Lancashire Evening Post HERE.
Let's test whether he will take questions on Damian McBride and Ken Boston, shall we gang?
*Rubs hands with glee*
ReplyDeleteBollox - I'm back home early and was going to do some work in the garden...... think I'd better stick around for this instead!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heads up Iain....
When you have to find a real job after 2010 what will you be qualified to do ?
ReplyDeleteMy question would be:
ReplyDeleteFor an individual who aspires to unseat Gordon Brown and become Prime Minister, when will you learn to speak the English language properly?
Lots of critical questions being posed but I can't hear anything; is it just me or is the video just like Labour, not working?
ReplyDelete5.50: "Technical problems"
ReplyDeleteWhy is they no sound?
ReplyDeleteWell - we are mid session with no audio and a lot of technical problems.
ReplyDeleteI have asked these questions:
"Will you now widen the enquiry into SATs failure to consider the role of Ministers given the recent criticism by Ken Boston?"
and under the guise 'JC' this one:
"Ken Boston indicated that David Bell effectively "warned him to resign since the SATs inquiry would be bad for him". Given recent smear controversy will you instigate an enquiry?"
I have no idea if Balls has either been asked or answered any of the questions that have been put to him on-line!
Ha. Iain, are there any members of the Balls web chat who haven't come from your blog?!
ReplyDeleteI posted the following but I assume they will be screened by Ball's SpAd, a condition of his appearance:
ReplyDeleteWill the Labour Party continue to discuss online strategy or any other matter with disgraced editor of LabourList, Derek Draper?
Were you aware, in principle, of the plan to set up the attack blog, Red Rag? If not, who else was responsible for supervising the work of former Downing St advisor, Damian McBride?
When was it decided to scrap plans for the attack blog, Red Rag and who precisely was party to this decision?
Was the decision to introduce a 50% marginal tax rate discussed at Cabinet? Did any Cabinet members raise concerns that by increasing income taxes, the Government would be in breach of a key manifesto pledge?
Do you ever wish that three time election winning Tony Blair was still in charge, given Gordon Brown’s ever dwindling appeal to the electorate?
Ha! He's answering (2 answers so far) questions that haven't appeared and not answering those that have.
ReplyDeleteWaste of time.
What a joke. Advertised as "Live", no sound, and now they say they will broadcast "highlights" later. Think they mean edited clips after Mr. Balls has had time review them.
ReplyDeleteI get the impression that they may be 'filtering' the questions.
ReplyDeleteConvenient.
*fumes*
It seems that despite being Schools Secretary, dear old Balls can neither set an example as to good conduct in public life, nor answer questions about his behaviour.
He is speaking through a typist who cannot type properly nor can he speak proper English. And he seems to be proving answers to fictional questions rather the ones that are being submitted.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the blog administrators for this event all is fair and above board:
ReplyDelete"No restictions were put on the questions asked during today's webchat audience. No questions were supplied to Ed Balls office and all questions are those of the invited members of the audience"
The questions asked by those via the web will seemingly be put to Balls later. I suspect these will be heavily screened or restricted.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZeuEr-c6ls - Have you seen this old boy?
ReplyDeleteThis is a classic; what an open forum for debate:
ReplyDelete[Comment From Dorian Smith]
Do you think it fair to compare your party to the disastrous Labour administration of the late 70's? Do you think you're party is better or worse than Jim Callahan's Labour? Do you think due to your actions there will now be another 18 years of Tory rule?
6:18
[Comment From LEP]
"Schools which are succeeding in school nutrition are the ones that consult the children on what should be on the menu."
Hmmm...enlightening.
Balls has a great political career behind him!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely bloody typical - no sound and I bet they are editing out the best questions. From my brief look at the set up he will ride this one out easily.
ReplyDeleteIain, you would have saved yourself some bother if you had written "Have a Question for Ed Balls Concordant with Comment Moderation Policy?"
ReplyDeleteDamn,
ReplyDeleteI have a memo he'd have been interested in.
You can leave your comment on the article
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lep.co.uk/news/Minister-39frustrated39-by-90m-college.5201987.jp
Do be polite!!
'----and all questions are those of the invited members of the audience"'
ReplyDeletei suggest this answers all our questions even if mr balls didn't !