Miliband gives his backing to Ed Balls

Ed Miliband has given his backing to shadow chancellor Ed Balls following weeks of speculation about his former leadership rival’s position.

The Labour leader has previously refused to guarantee that Mr Balls would remain in the key post, but Mr Miliband indicated that the shadow chancellor would continue to play that role until the 2015 general election.

With speculation in Westminster of a possible return to frontline politics for Mr Miliband’s elder brother David, the Labour leader insisted there was “no vacancy” as shadow chancellor and that Mr Balls will “continue doing a great job”.

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The Labour leader told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show his shadow chancellor “scares the Tories and David Cameron”.

Asked whether Mr Balls would be in his post in 2015 Mr Miliband said: “Absolutely, we have said that we will go into the next election as a team. But what I’m not going to do is start measuring the curtains for Downing Street.”

He added: “He is doing a great job and he is going to continue doing a great job.”

Mr Miliband said Mr Balls 
had been right about the problems with the coalition’s economic policy, adding: 
“Those kind of good judgments are incredibly important in politics.”

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The Labour leader wished Andrew Marr a speedy recovery as he appeared on the show which bears the broadcaster’s name.

The 53-year-old journalist is recovering from a stroke and the BBC’s deputy political 
editor James Landale filled in as host.

Mr Miliband said: “On behalf of myself and everybody across politics I wish Andrew Marr a speedy recovery, all best wishes to him and his family.”

At the start of the BBC1 show Mr Landale said: “It would be a much better morning if Andrew were here, not me.

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“But I’m keeping the chair warm while he is away getting better. We all look forward to his speedy recovery and wish him and his family well and all the best in the meantime.”

Marr is the corporation’s former political editor.

He began his career as a newspaper reporter, becoming the editor of the Independent before turning to television.

He has also presented a number of history programmes along with his politics show and has had five books published.