Ed Balls has picked up another trick from his political father Gordon Brown – going missing, Macavity style, from the scene of a crime. The Shadow Chancellor hit another car in Morley on April 5 but sped off in his Peugeot 306 without contacting the owner or leaving his insurance details. He was only caught by CCTV.

The Yorkshire Post reports that the police have launched an investigation. According to West Yorkshire Police:

“We received a report on Sunday, April 6, of a fail-to-stop collision on Commercial Street, Morley, which is reported to have happened the day before on Saturday, April 5. Damage was caused to the front offside wing of a parked black Peugeot 306. Enquiries are ongoing.”

Of course this is not the first time Balls has got into trouble behind the wheel. He claims:

“As soon as I was made aware of what had happened, I took full responsibility for any damage caused.”

Not a mantra he applies to the economy, sadly.