The long interview with Ed Balls in the Staggers tickled Guido. The humanisation project is rolling on:

So what does he think his biggest weakness is? There is a long pause. “I think three or four years ago, people would have said my biggest weakness was that sometimes I was awkward on television, with my stammer, but I think they’d say that much less now.”

Yeah that must be why everyone hates you Ed.

I try again. What would he say his biggest weakness is now? Another long pause. “I’m a very loyal person and I allowed myself to be defined as somebody who was doing Gordon’s bidding. I should have fought back harder to define myself at an earlier stage.”

Nothing that a good unleashing of the “forces of hell” couldn’t have fixed. Balls topped Guido’s poll yesterday for the most annoying MP, with 39.4% (2600 of the 6,600 people polled) in agreement with the PM that he was the one. A smaller poll for The Times had 66% of those responding opting for Balls as the prime irritant.

But only because he’s a bit awkward and too loyal!