Police investigate after Ed Balls hits parked car

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27042251

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Police are looking into an incident in which senior Labour politician Ed Balls allegedly drove off after his vehicle hit a parked car.

The shadow chancellor and MP for Morley and Outwood said he had not known any damage was done when their "bumpers touched" during a "seven-point" turn.

He was traced by CCTV coverage of the "narrow drive" next to the Labour rooms in Morley, the Yorkshire Post said.

A police spokesman said inquiries into the incident were continuing.

Sgt Adrian Wright, of West Yorkshire Police's Eastern Area Roads Policing Unit, said: "We received a report on Sunday, 6 April of a fail to stop collision on Commercial Street, Morley, which is reported to have happened the day before, on Saturday, 5 April.

"Damage was caused to the front offside wing of a parked black Peugeot 306."

Mr Balls said: "Ten days ago, I turned our car round in a tight spot in the private drive beside the Labour rooms in Morley.

"There was a stationary car parked close by. The turn took five or seven points and I was aware that at one point the bumpers of the two cars touched.

"I park there all the time in what is a relatively narrow drive. But until I was contacted the following Wednesday, I had no awareness at all that there had been any damage to the other car.

"As soon as I was made aware of what had happened, I took full responsibility for any damage caused.

"I have written to the owner of the other car to say I was terribly sorry and to reimburse the owner concerned for the necessary repair. I have contacted our insurance company in the usual way."