Balls fears coalition taking Britain back to the 1980s

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has warned Britain is heading back to the 1980s.

On a visit to Edinburgh, the Labour MP highlighted concerns about rising youth unemployment and accused the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition at Westminster of being "confrontational".

He said: "What is it about the 1980s? A big rise in oil prices, a big rise in VAT, a government determined to cut public spending and rising youth unemployment. We are seeing a repeat of 1979, 1980 and 1981 all over again.

"You have a government at Westminster which is almost seeking that confrontation, acting in a way that is so fast and so reckless."

Mr Balls visited Nelson Hall Community Centre.