When Balls realises he can get more political capital by hanging social services out to dry than by pushing for new regulations, we will win, as he will care less about being seen to be “supporting” what is now seen as a failing system.

He gambled on the spin that a “good” children’s services department was being hampered by lack of powers, and he is losing, as Birmingham Children’s Services has been catastrophically failing for years (thanks to their wholehearted acceptance of Laming).

he now has to calculate whether Birmingham CS will take him down with them (they damn well should).