HE’S Balls by name and balls by nature. First, it was alleged that the Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, had engaged in a Cabinet altercation with have-a-go-hero Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, over which of them was responsible for youth crime. Now he has upset another heavyweight bruiser, Charles Clarke, a man who could easily find gainful employment as a nightclub bouncer. According to Mr Balls, recent criticism of the Prime Minister is “indulgent nonsense” emanating from people with scores to settle. According to Mr Clarke, a person who knows a few things about settling scores, Mr Balls is “well acquainted” with the sort of anonymous briefing he now condemns. The former Home Secretary also said his youthful adversary “should stop attacking others anonymously or in code and look to his own performance and record”. In happier days for the Government, John Prescott was called on to break up fisticuffs of this unsavoury nature. Perhaps he could intervene now.