The Normanton one walks free. Speaker Michael Martin has cleared Ed Balls of allegations that he shouted "So What?" when David Cameron told MPs: "We have the highest tax burden in our history."

Hansard records that Balls said "So weak!" and not "So what?", despite the Tory leader immediately responding: "'So what?' says the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families."

As the dispute over "So-Whatgate" raged on at Westminster, the combative Tory MP Andrew Robathan complained to the Speaker: A large number of people on this side, in the Gallery, journalists, heard him say 'So what?'

You can hear it on the internet, said Robathan. Indeed you can, right here on Boulton & Co.

"Could you arrange for the editor of Hansard to come and tell the House, or make a statement, as to whether the Secretary of State or anybody on his behalf approached Hansard to have it doctored," said the Tory MP.

The Speaker said he had checked with Commons officials, adding: "They tell me they are satisfied and the editor of Hansard, more important still, is satisfied that there is a correct record."

Mmm. I'd left the chamber to go to the Treasury's Budget briefing when the exchange took place.

But I've listened to the exchange again and again and it's impossible to tell exactly what Balls, MP for Normanton, did say. Two Shadow Cabinet members, sitting on the Opposition front bench only a few feet away, tell me they're certain he definitely said "So What?" I suppose they would be, though.

Not so, according to Ed's wife, Yvette Cooper, loyally. "You know Ed," she tells me. "He wouldn't say that."

I suppose if Mr Speaker is satisfied, that's the end of the matter. But the incident is embarrassing for Ed, Gordon's chief crony, and won't have helped his ambition to become Chancellor.

Comments

[John, Northumberland 17 Mar 2008 16:53:35]

Carol-Ann from Liverpool rejecting criticism of the Labour Party. Strange.

But to be fair, Mr & Mrs Balls do take over 600,000 POUNDS every year from the tax payer. And if me & my missus were trousering that, then I'd probably say "So what?" to Mr Cameron pointing out that Labour have created the highest tax burden in the country's history.

The only other people who might say "So what?" are those who don't have to pay anything anyway ie. benefit claimants.

Well they promised to put the Great back into Britain!

[carol-ann liverpool 17 Mar 2008 14:05:40]

I can't understand what the fuss is about. So what if he said 'so what'?

I am sure that there have been many MPs shouting things that are far more controversial than what Ed is supposed to have said but didn't say.

If Hansard said he didn't say it, that is the end of the matter.
I am sure the public couldn't give a damn about the shenanigans in the House of Commons; we all know that the NuCons are going after anyone who is close to GB because they are having a tough job making the public hate GB!
Look at the people that the Nucons go for - it is anyone who is perceived to be an adviser or confidante of the PM.
It is all tactical so the Nucons exploiting any opportunity to hit Ed Balls is all part of Le Grande Plan.

It kind of speaks of the desperation of Cammers and the NuCons, really, that they jump on every paltry opportunity to attack The Government.

[Bill Hull 15 Mar 2008 19:05:04]

Come on Mr Craig - you know that that page 21 of the Spinners Manual states, 'when you dare not deny that a colleague has said/done something, because it could easily be proved that you are lying, simply say "X couldn't/wouldn't do/say anything like that."
The statement is dishonest but as a matter of opinion not a statement is not exactly a lie.'
I feel you might have pointed this out.

[Jack Cade 14 Mar 2008 19:15:35]

Time for "so what?" to go. Let them keep the houses and the money, if they just resign.

[Mike Simpson 14 Mar 2008 19:06:51]

"So weak" - the comment made by Ed Balls to David "Charlatan" Cameron in exchanges across the dispatch box.

Thought for the day... if Shallow Dave chooses so wilfully and deliberately to misinterpret and 'spin' a comment, how can you trust this man with the levers of power? Reference Hansard as to what was actually said by EB. Could you trust matters of importance in Shallow Dave's hands, given his 'form' & contemptible actions?!

Posted by: Mike Simpson 14 Mar 2008 09:26:11

Hate to tell those NuCon bloggers that 'I told you so', and I know the truth hurts Phillip of Bristol but I would prefer if David "Charlatan" Cameron could act honourably for a change, instead of a veritable PR spin-machine.

[The Morning Mail 14 Mar 2008 18:01:43]

I have a friend who is an expert lip reader.

He said "So what".

Which just show how corrupt Gorbals Mick and the whole rotten system is.

Black will be white next!!

Posted by: Philip, Bristol 14 Mar 2008 08:34:18

Wake up Philip! The speaker wasn't in the Chamber on Budget day, his Deputy was overseeing proceedings. As for your lip reader buddy, does he/she have similar views to yours. If so I don't reckon the opinion will have any credence.

[alan mcpartland dublin 14 Mar 2008 15:09:04]

We all know Michael Martin (from a "working class" background)is an honourable man, now don't we?

[Julian, London 14 Mar 2008 13:10:02]

A typically robust and impartial decision from Mr Speaker.
Nice he was actually there though, and not using up his airmiles on some family jolly or in a taxi on the way to Harrods...

Posted by: James, London 13 Mar 2008 17:27:02

In fact, the Speaker wasn't there. It was the Deputy Speaker in the seat.

[Ralph 14 Mar 2008 11:47:27]

Jon,

Here's an idea, instead of this rubbish, hire (on Sky's buck) a lip reader and get a definitive answer.

Whatever the answer you get a story.

[Fluffy, London, England 14 Mar 2008 09:35:49]

nEU-Labour may have rewritten history, but they have yet to find a way of destroying the populus' memory.

Oh, silly me they have. It is called the BBC...!

;)

[Philip, Bristol 14 Mar 2008 08:34:18]

I have a friend who is an expert lip reader.

He said "So what".

Which just show how corrupt Gorbals Mick and the whole rotten system is.

Black will be white next!!

[T. England 14 Mar 2008 07:35:47]

Is it just me that looked at the picture above & thought of Noddy & Mr Plod?

Just like most things Labour say & do, spin & deceit never seems to be far away!

[E Welshman 14 Mar 2008 00:00:38]

Hansard doesn't appear to be worth the paper it's written on.

First Brown's Dummy Darling got it corrected, and now 'So what' Balls has done the same.

Can Hansard ever be trusted again as a true record of Parliamentary proceedings?

[The Morning Mail 13 Mar 2008 23:23:29]

Selective deafness from Cammers....'So weak' wouldn't sound good on his pre-rehearsed soundbite.

This truly shows up Cammers in his true light, a total fraud, and is clearly unfit for high office, spinning untruths and soundbites ad infinitum.

[Northernhousewife 13 Mar 2008 19:36:58]

The best defence he can comwe up with is 'So weak'?
He thinks that the accusation that we have the highest tax burden in history is a weak one?
How does that help his cause?

John Pinear on Five Live said he thought he caught him saying 's w o t' and so he may [?} have been calling him a swot.
Fits with 'so what' better than 'so weak' explanation better that the other.

Ed Balls, you are the 'weakest' link. Goodbye.

[neither/niether 13 Mar 2008 18:30:20]

Whatever he said he has already done enough damage to his political career. Some people are late developers, he is one that was held in great esteem by his party, and full of promise. He has now shown by regular bad judgement, that he developed too early, and is not an asset to his party

[john 13 Mar 2008 17:57:00]

You lobby hacks lay down to Alastair Campbell and now you're grovelling to Ed "I didn't say them words" Balls.
get off your knees.

[James, London 13 Mar 2008 17:27:02]

A typically robust and impartial decision from Mr Speaker.
Nice he was actually there though, and not using up his airmiles on some family jolly or in a taxi on the way to Harrods...

[Trevor 13 Mar 2008 17:23:44]

"But I've listened to the exchange again and again and it's impossible to tell exactly what Balls, MP for Normanton, did say."
------------------------------
Oh no it isn't, Jon.... Not if you've been 40% deaf in both ears for some time and are used to partially relying on lip-reading.

The lip movements for "what" and "weak" are TOTALLY different. In the former, the lower lip moves downwards; in the latter, BOTH lips move sideways.

Trust me - he said "So what?"

As for Michael Martin saying he said something else, well, in the immortal words of Mandy Rice-Davies, "He WOULD say that, wouldn't he?" !

[John Delaney 13 Mar 2008 17:12:27]

Jon
Go and make hay somewhere else because you cannot hear it on you link did you not see him say you are so weak and how true he is on that count.

[Pantherman 13 Mar 2008 17:00:01]

And does it matter ? NO
And do we care ? NO
And do we trust him ? NO
And should they leave ? YES