Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, comes across as something of a political nerd, determined to bankrupt the country with his distinctive brand of net zero zealotry. Miliband has devised the answer to this image problem. He is looking to hire a vanity photographer – at considerable public expense – despite previously criticising politicians who did the same thing. In 2010, Miliband condemned David Cameron, then prime minister, for hiring a ‘personal photographer’ at a time when the government was asking everyone in the country to ‘tighten their belts’. Some might think it a touch hypocritical to do the same now that he’s in government – but clearly not our Ed.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), headed by the former Labour leader, is advertising for a photographer to produce images that ‘grab headlines and stand out on social
media’. Should that really be the priority for this or any government department?
The lucky applicant will receive a salary of £41,000 and a £5,000 ‘communications allowance’ (what for, exactly?).
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