Ed Balls says he’s worried Donald Trump might become a ‘reality TV president’ and risk-taking will be his default position
Former shadow chancellor said the President-Elect could be dangerous for the world, and also revealed more about his upcoming Strictly performance in Blackpool
ED BALLS has admitted he is concerned that Donald Trump will be a "reality TV President".
The former shadow chancellor, and surprising star of this year's Strictly Come Dancing, said this morning that politics and reality TV had "massive differences" and Mr Trump's behaviour could become "dangerous" for the world.
"If you look at the difference, and there's a massive difference, in the end reality TV is about entertaining. It's about shock, it's about impact, it's about risk," he told Radio 4 this morning.
"Government is a bit different. What you can't do is shock for the sake of it. If that becomes your default... I worry that Donald Trump would be a reality TV President, that would be very dangerous for the world indeed."
The presenter, Nick Robinson, said it was sort of like a "reverse Donald Trump", that the President-Elect had gone from reality TV to politics, and Mr Balls had gone the other way.
He was also accused of stopping more qualified candidates from getting closer to winning the process, similar to former Strictly contest John Sergeant.
The then 64-year-old political correspondent was repeatedly saved from eviction by the public vote despite coming bottom of the league tables every week, but eventually quit the process.
"As it goes on, the dance becomes a bigger deal," he said. "In the end Nick, you've got to respect the voters. The public decide who becomes President or Prime Minister, or stays in Strictly."
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The former MP revealed more about his plans for his upcoming dance regime after last week's spectacular performance of Gangnan Style made him an internet sensation yet again.
"This Saturday in Blackpool, I am doing a jive," he said."I discovered I am coming down on a rope, not fired from a cannon."
Mr Balls and his partner Katya Jones left the judges speechless on Saturday night, and this week the pair are set to blow viewers away again. Mr Balls will be lowered down on a rope while playing the piano at the start of his performance. "Even Lord Sugar is now backing my efforts, I must be doing OK," he added.
He thanked everyone who has been voting for him, and added: "We're going to keep trying harder to do better... in the end they might spot I'm not the best dancer."
But with the unexpected Brexit vote and the unpredictable election of Mr Trump, could the former shadow chancellor be the secret favourite to win the show?
"I think if you've got a bet on me, I'd cash out," he said.
Mr Balls, one of the architects of the independent Bank of England, also spoke this morning about the need to rethink its structures.
"The reforms we've seen... have hugely concentrated power in central banks. I think it's unfinished business," he said.
In a new research paper for Harvard University Mr Balls argued that there needed to be a new committee to oversee the Bank of England and a clearer role for the Chancellor.
"The Bank needs more political support," he added.