article_snippet.sent: Ed Balls sparked a furious response from David Cameron earlier this month after Danny Alexander dismissed a letter (left) to Mr Byrne apologising for the late reply to his original note (right) as a 'jokey note'.
article_snippet.sent: a 'jokey note' has become emblematic of Labour's fiscal irresponsibility in office and was used by David Cameron in the seven-way leaders' debate earlier this month.
article_snippet.sent: But Mr Ball insisted the note admitting that Labour had blown the nation's finances should not be taken seriously.
article_snippet.sent: The Deputy Prime Minister told BBC West Midlands: 'Liam Byrne's note was a jokey note… of the course the money hadn't run out.'
article_snippet.sent: Liam Byrne's note was a jokey note, of course the money hadn't run out.'
article_snippet.sent: Mr Balls blamed the Lib Dem minister David Laws for leaking Liam Byrne's note.
article_snippet.sent: Mr Balls said it was supposed to be a private note, adding: 'it was supposed to be a piece of humour.
article_snippet.sent: The Prime Minister said Mr Balls's response was 'frankly the most appalling thing I have heard in this election campaign so far'.
article_snippet.sent: The Prime Minister claimed Balls was Ed Miliband's third choice to be shadow chancellor and was frankly 'the country's last choice to be put in charge of this nation's finances'.