Bill Somebody: So who is Ed Balls' mysterious Labour business supporter?

Balls forgot Bill Thomas' name live on air while trying to push the party's big business connections

Ed Balls (Rex)

Bill Somebody has been catapulted into the spotlight after Ed Balls "named" him on Newsnight last night.

He was even name-checked by the David Cameron in Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday afternoon. Cameron joked that "Bill Somebody" wasn't a business supporter, but their policy.

But who exactly is the shadowy friend of the Shadow Chancellor?

Bill Somebody is better-known by his colleagues and friends as Bill Thomas. Thomas is Labour's Small Business Taskforce Chair and has had the position since 2012.

Thomas is former Executive Vice-President of EDS EMEA, an American computer firm. He oversaw $12billion in annual revenue and 58,000 employees - and Thomas helped grow the company's profits by 20 per cent per annum.

He lives on Hopton Estate, Derbyshire, an historic house with its own shooting grounds. Thomas lives with wife Julie Thomas and dogs Roo and Winston on the splendid estate, which also boats 37,000 acres and was once a favourite of Princess Anne.

Let's hope Balls' apology is enough to make up for the slip of the tongue.