Barry Sheerman, chair of the children, schools and families committee,
said so after Balls appointed Maggie Atkinson as children's
commissioner despite opposition from MPs. That was on Monday.
Today, the question is being asked again after Ball's row with BASW chief executive Hilton Dawson at the National Children and Adults Services Conference in Harrogate.
Officials from the Department for Children, Schools and Families attempted to play down the spat, saying the men were talking at cross purposes.
But delegates were less sure. While not wanting to be quoted in the press, it was not hard to find people who thought Balls was being a bully.
Officials from the Department for Children, Schools and Families attempted to play down the spat, saying the men were talking at cross purposes.
But delegates were less sure. While not wanting to be quoted in the press, it was not hard to find people who thought Balls was being a bully.
This is another politician who cannot accept that he has a level of responsibility and that everyone else is to blame. He would be thought more worthy if he at least accepted that there may be a case for streamlining the process.
I agree, Ed Balls is a bully but more sadly, he does not know what social work is let alone child protection. Does he even understand the difference between child protection and child abuse? He has the responsibility of addressing the professions of social work in particular child protection. What are his plans? What is his vision? Does he have any? The trouble is there are leaders who dont know how to lead because they dont know where they are going. Unfortunately, Ed Balls is one of those leaders who does not know where he is going.
It does not seem good news that Mr Balls is not trying to engage with Mr Dawson. Mr Balls will be gone soon even if Labour were to get in he does not want this job as its too difficult, no easy answers, let him go off and work somewhere else see what he can do in other areas.