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Ed Miliband: 'No photo opps' Labour leader takes biggest photo opp of the year thus far Ed Miliband: 'No photo opps' Labour leader takes biggest photo opp of thus far
(4 days later)
After failing in his mission to ‘fit in’ with the working classes by eating a bacon sandwich normally, and receiving some criticism for his relentless selfie-snapping, Ed Miliband all but turned his back on every politician’s favourite publicity tool  ̶  the un-humble photo opportunity.After failing in his mission to ‘fit in’ with the working classes by eating a bacon sandwich normally, and receiving some criticism for his relentless selfie-snapping, Ed Miliband all but turned his back on every politician’s favourite publicity tool  ̶  the un-humble photo opportunity.
The Labour leader all but declared his days in front of the lens dead in July, instructing a central London crowd during a 20-minute speech on the issue that if they wanted “a politician who thinks that a good photo is the most important thing” not to vote for him. The Labour leader declared his days in front of the lens dead in July, instructing a central London crowd during a 20-minute speech on the issue that if they wanted “a politician who thinks that a good photo is the most important thing” not to vote for him.
“Because I don’t,” he added. “I believe that people would quite like somebody to stand up and say there is more to politics than the photo-op. And that culture diminishes our politics.” “Because I don’t,” he continued. “I believe that people would quite like somebody to stand up and say there is more to politics than the photo-op. And that culture diminishes our politics.”
But it seems he’s had a change of heart. Because ‘no photo ops’ Ed happens to have opted in on a classic photo opportunity for any hearts-and-minds desiring politician – one of him giving money to a beggar on the street. But it seems he’s had a change of heart. Because ‘no photo ops’ Ed happens to have opted in on a classic photo opportunity for any hearts-and-minds desiring politician – being snapped giving money to a beggar on the street.
Ed Miliband trying to put a coin in a beggar's cup without looking. One for @OddMiliband pic.twitter.com/p4ela4TD5mEd Miliband trying to put a coin in a beggar's cup without looking. One for @OddMiliband pic.twitter.com/p4ela4TD5m
Images of him dropping small change into the outstretched cup of a homeless women quickly circulated on Twitter, with many noting the careful positioning of a press photographer in the background, cleverly poised to snap the philanthropic moment in action. Images of him dropping small change into the outstretched cup of a homeless women quickly circulated on Twitter, with many noting the careful positioning of a press photographer in the background, cleverly poised to capture the philanthropic moment in action.
Still, the bar for embarrassing Miliband photographs has already been set so high by ‘the bacon gurn’, the picture is unlikely to become front page fodder any time soon:Still, the bar for embarrassing Miliband photographs has already been set so high by ‘the bacon gurn’, the picture is unlikely to become front page fodder any time soon:
Ed Miliband embarked on a whirlwind campaign tour of England - but struggled at the first hurdle of a bacon sandwichEd Miliband embarked on a whirlwind campaign tour of England - but struggled at the first hurdle of a bacon sandwich
The unfortunate shot comes as former Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Miliband not to chase after "nasty Ukip policies" on immigration and urged the party take a stronger stand against the party.The unfortunate shot comes as former Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Miliband not to chase after "nasty Ukip policies" on immigration and urged the party take a stronger stand against the party.
“Let’s be clear: we don’t think that Ukip’s right, not on immigration and not on Europe – so the first thing you’ve got to be really careful of doing is… saying things that suggest that they’re kind of justified in their policy, because what you’re actually going to do is validate their argument when in fact you don’t believe in it,” he told Progress magazine.“Let’s be clear: we don’t think that Ukip’s right, not on immigration and not on Europe – so the first thing you’ve got to be really careful of doing is… saying things that suggest that they’re kind of justified in their policy, because what you’re actually going to do is validate their argument when in fact you don’t believe in it,” he told Progress magazine.