• Labour MP for Normanton
• Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (since 28 Jun 2007)
• Entered Parliament on 5 May 2005 — General election
• Majority: 10,002 votes. — 160th out of 633 MPs.
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• Voting record
• Committees and topics of interest
• Recent appearances
• Numerology
• Register of Members’ Interests
• Expenses
• Early Day Motions signed by this MP (From edm.ais.co.uk)

How Edward Balls voted on key issues since 2001:

• Voted moderately against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for replacing Trident. votes, speeches
• Voted very strongly for equal gay rights. votes, speeches

Read about how the voting record is decided.

More on well-known issues (from the Guardian) & their full record

• Hardly ever rebels against their party in this parliament.

Asks most questions about

• Departments: Education and Skills, Trade and Industry, Health, Deputy Prime Minister, Work and Pensions

• Subjects (based on headings added by Hansard): Care Support Services, Care Leavers, Mental Health, Rwanda, Teenage Pregnancy

(based on written questions asked by Edward Balls and answered by departments)

Written Ministerial Statements — Children, Schools and Families: Children's Plan (3 Jul 2008)

“In the children's plan, which I presented to Parliament in December 2007, the Government set out their ambition to make this country the best place in the world for young people to grow up. As part of this, we committed to world-class standards in education; a new role for schools as the centre of their communities; and more effective links between schools, health and other children's...”

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Academies (30 Jun 2008)

“May I request your indulgence and that of the House, Mr. Speaker, and ask the House to join me in offering best wishes to my Department's parliamentary Clerk, Mr. Mike Watts, who is retiring from the Department today after 21 years of loyal service? Eighty-three academies are already open. A further 49 will open this September, and two more in January 2009. As part of the national challenge,...”

Oral Answers to Questions — Children, Schools and Families: Academies (30 Jun 2008)

“We are very grateful for the hon. Gentleman's support and that of the local authority, Richmond, in connection with the two academies being planned in his constituency. As he will know, discussions are in progress with the Swedish education group Kunskapsskolan. It is probably true to say that Labour and the Liberal Democrats have always been rather supportive of aspects of the Swedish model,...”

More of Edward Balls's recent appearances

Please note that numbers do not measure quality. Also, representatives may do other things not currently covered by this site. (More about this)

• Has spoken in 15 debates in the last year — below average amongst MPs.
• Has received answers to 0 written questions in the last year — Ministers do not ask written questions.
• Replied within 2 or 3 weeks to a low number of messages sent via WriteToThem.com during 2007, according to constituents.
• Has voted in 84% of votes in parliament — well above average amongst MPs. (From Public Whip)
• People have made 26 comments on this MP's speeches — well above average amongst MPs.
• This MP's speeches are understandable to an average 18–19 year old, going by the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score.
• 149 people are tracking whenever this MP speaks — email me whenever Edward Balls speaks.
• Has used three-word alliterative phrases (e.g. "she sells seashells") 289 times in debates — well above average amongst MPs. (Why is this here?)

Register last updated: 16 Jun 2008. More about the Register

View the history of this MP's entries in the Register

Figures in brackets are ranks. Parliament's explanatory notes.

^* Car £5,064 (141st). 3rd party £30 (47th). Rail £8,839 (52nd).