Ed Balls steps up training for ‘crazy’ marathon bid

Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has revealed he is in training for next month’s Virgin London Marathon – describing it as a “crazy” thing to do given his day job.

The Labour MP, best known as something of a pugilist at the Commons despatch box, will be running 26.2 miles through the capital’s streets for charity on 22 April.

Mr Balls has been secretly clocking up the training miles for six months. He disclosed his secret running regime after somebody on Twitter said they had seen him in Regent’s Park in London wearing “very tight, unedifying trousers”.

Mr Balls said he was, “completely madly”, preparing for the marathon in four weeks’ time.