Ed Miliband has been labelled an "uber-hypocrite" after receiving backlash for hiring a tax-payer-funded "vanity photographer".
As leader of the Labour Party, Miliband took aim at then Prime Minister David Cameron for having a personal photographer in 2010.
However, in his new role as Net Zero Secretary, Miliband is looking to hire a photographer to take pictures of ministerial visits and shoot official portraits.
Taxpayers will foot the bill of the position's hefty pay and pension package - at around £50,000 each year on a pro-rata basis.
In 2014, he became subject to great public scrutiny after photographers managed to capture him eating a bacon sandwich in New Covent Garden - which was meant to help the Labour MP deter his "geeky" image.
However, as soon as his advisers attempted to salvage the incident, the photographers had already snapped the damning material that would haunt the British politician for years to come.
Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden has now hit out at the Energy Secretary, saying: "It wasn't that long ago that Red Ed was attacking David Cameron for having an official photographer."
"Now, with photos of him and a bacon sandwich and the 'Ed Stone' seared in the public mind, you can see why uber-hypocrite Ed 'two kitchens' Miliband has hypocritically hired a taxpayer-funded vanity photographer to try and avoid such snaps in the future."
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One senior Tory insider added: "It’s a classic case of do as I say, not as I do."
Miliband's department has explained that the advertised role will support the work of all ministers - rather than just the Secretary of State.
Regarding the salary, a spokeswoman clarified: "It is a flexi role and part-time so they will not be paid the full advertised rate."
In 2010, after Cameron announced that he had been allowed to have an official photographer, he became an easy target during PMQs.
On one occasion, Miliband questioned whether it was "a wise judgment when [the Prime Minister] was telling everyone to tighten their belts".
As a result, Cameron said that he took the photographer off the public purse, opting to charge his own party for it instead.
Last year, Angela Rayner came under similar fire for having her own photographer - with an advertised salary nearing £68,000.
She had received the same cries of alleged hypocrisy from the Conservatives, who harked back to her past criticism of Boris Johnson for having a photographer during his time at Number 10.
In 1997, Tony Blair looked to make a similar hire when he entered Downing Street, although his cabinet secretary was quick to ban the move due to it being an inappropriate use of public money.
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As leader of the Labour Party, Miliband took aim at then Prime Minister David Cameron for having a personal photographer in 2010.
However, in his new role as Net Zero Secretary, Miliband is looking to hire a photographer to take pictures of ministerial visits and shoot official portraits.
Taxpayers will foot the bill of the position's hefty pay and pension package - at around £50,000 each year on a pro-rata basis.
In 2014, he became subject to great public scrutiny after photographers managed to capture him eating a bacon sandwich in New Covent Garden - which was meant to help the Labour MP deter his "geeky" image.
However, as soon as his advisers attempted to salvage the incident, the photographers had already snapped the damning material that would haunt the British politician for years to come.
Shadow Paymaster General Richard Holden has now hit out at the Energy Secretary, saying: "It wasn't that long ago that Red Ed was attacking David Cameron for having an official photographer."
"Now, with photos of him and a bacon sandwich and the 'Ed Stone' seared in the public mind, you can see why uber-hypocrite Ed 'two kitchens' Miliband has hypocritically hired a taxpayer-funded vanity photographer to try and avoid such snaps in the future."
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One senior Tory insider added: "It’s a classic case of do as I say, not as I do."
Miliband's department has explained that the advertised role will support the work of all ministers - rather than just the Secretary of State.
Regarding the salary, a spokeswoman clarified: "It is a flexi role and part-time so they will not be paid the full advertised rate."
In 2010, after Cameron announced that he had been allowed to have an official photographer, he became an easy target during PMQs.
On one occasion, Miliband questioned whether it was "a wise judgment when [the Prime Minister] was telling everyone to tighten their belts".
As a result, Cameron said that he took the photographer off the public purse, opting to charge his own party for it instead.
Last year, Angela Rayner came under similar fire for having her own photographer - with an advertised salary nearing £68,000.
She had received the same cries of alleged hypocrisy from the Conservatives, who harked back to her past criticism of Boris Johnson for having a photographer during his time at Number 10.
In 1997, Tony Blair looked to make a similar hire when he entered Downing Street, although his cabinet secretary was quick to ban the move due to it being an inappropriate use of public money.
Find Out More...