So the voters did take you to the cleaners then, Ed!
A WEEK after he was unceremoniously dumped by voters, Ed Balls still has his hands full.
But instead of running the economy, he’s had to make do with rather more mundane tasks … such as carrying his dirty suits to the dry cleaner.
The former shadow chancellor was pictured laden with work clothes he’ll no longer need – including what looked like the navy jacket he wore when he lost his seat to a former beauty queen during Labour’s election defeat.
And even though he prides himself on being a New Man, his scowl suggested he is less than happy with his new role as a house husband.
Dressed in faded jeans and a casual jacket Mr Balls, 48, set off on foot to the dry cleaners near his terrace home in East London.
Having safely delivered the pile of clothes, he managed to find time in his hectic new schedule to pop into a bakery and pick up a couple of crusty loaves.
His wife, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper, 46, announced this week that she will run for the Labour leadership and promised to ‘make life better for families’.
Luckily, Mr Balls considers himself a homely type who is rarely happier than when in the kitchen or at the family piano.
Aside from the household chores, however, it is not clear exactly how Mr Balls, who has three children with his wife, occupies the rest of his time these days.
He had not yet got around to updating his official website, which still describes him as shadow chancellor.
And his only post-election addition to his blog has been the full text of the speech he gave after losing his Morley and Outwood seat to Tory Andrea Jenkyns by 422 votes.
Last year Miss Cooper revealed her husband is not much help on the school run – because his first priority of the day is practising the piano.
At least he’ll now have a bit more time to tickle the ivories.