Ed Balls (born February 25, 1967) served as chief economics adviser at the Treasury of the United Kingdom under Gordon Brown from 1999 to 2004.

Born in Norwich he was educated at the Nottingham High School, the University of Oxford, and later as a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard University. His career began as lead economic writer at the Financial Times (1990-1994) followed by his appointment as an economic adviser to the then shadow chancellor Gordon Brown (1994-1997).

As Labour swept to power in the General Election of 1997 he continued on as an economic adviser to Brown, who was now chancellor. He then served as chief economics adviser from 1999 to 2004. In July 2004 he was selected to stand as Labour and Co-operative candidate for the parliamentary seat of Normanton (which includes the towns of Horbury and Ossett) in West Yorkshire, a Labour stronghold. The West Yorkshire seat has been occupied by Labour MPs for longer than any other constituency in the United Kingdom. The seat will be left vacant following the announced retirement of Normanton's current MP, William O'Brien, at the next election.

He is married to Yvette Cooper MP, a junior minister in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, and they have two children, Ellie and Joe.

External links

• "Backroom bruiser steps out from Brown's shadow" - Interview with Ed Balls (Guardian Unlimited UK)