Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Ed Balls accuses David Cameron of 'sleepwalking Britain to the exit door'

The launch in the US capital of the Commission on Inclusive Prosperity had been in the shadow Chancellor's diary for months.

Andrew Grice
Thursday 15 January 2015 17:28 GMT
Comments
(Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Labour showed that David Cameron did not enjoy a UK monopoly in Washington when Ed Balls launched a centre-left economic strategy backed by key allies of Barack Obama.

The launch in the US capital of the Commission on Inclusive Prosperity had been in the shadow Chancellor's diary for months. By chance, it came on the same day as Mr Cameron’s visit to the White House for a working dinner with the US President.

It followed an 18-month review co-chaired by Mr Balls and Larry Summers, the former US Treasury Secretary and Obama adviser.

During his visit, Mr Balls also met Janet Yellen, who chairs the Federal Reserve and Jack Lew, the current Treasury Secretary, and went to the White House for talks with the National Economic Council, which advises the President.

The report concludes that traditional right of centre economics will not turn the tide of wage stagnation and growing inequality. It argues that governments must avoid a cost-cutting "race to the bottom" by supporting more good jobs and higher wages and boosting skills.

Mr Balls said: "It sets out how we can reverse the toxic combination of too little growth and rising inequality which has hit many developed economies in recent years.

"Globalisation and rapid technological change have brought many benefits but… working people, especially those on low and middle incomes, are losing out."

The shadow Chancellor accused the Prime Minister of "sleepwalking" Britain to the exit door.

He said: "When I speak to people in Washington, they say: 'Why is David Cameron proposing to take such big risks with Britain's economic future?'"

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in