The Energy Secretary has a long history of photographic mishaps (Image: Getty)
is hiring a photographer for about £46,000 a year, despite criticising others for doing the same thing in the past.
(DESNZ), run by the former Labour leader, is advertising for a person who wants “to work at the forefront of current policy-making decisions.”
The ad states that the salary could start at £41k with a £5k communications allowance.
Whilst the role is common amongst much of the civil service as a means of enhancing communication in a digital age, has previously been scathing in his views on others hiring photographers onto the Civil Service payroll.
In 2010 as leader of the Labour Party, slammed Prime Minister decision to hire a photographer at a time when people were facing the harsh reality of austerity following the 2008 financial crisis.
He said: “Is it really a wise judgement, when he is telling everybody to tighten their belts, to put his own personal photographer on the Civil Service payroll?”
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The department run by the former Labour leader is offering £41,000 a year (Image: Getty)
Ed Miliband PMQs in 2010:“Is it really a wise judgement when he is telling everyone to tighten their belts when he is putting his own, personal photographer on the civil service payroll?”Ed now has his own vanity photographer as everyone else is tightening their belts.
— Chris Rose (@ArchRose90)
Coming at the advent of the digital age and government communication via social media, the former Prime Minister recently defended his decision to appoint Andrew Parsons to the role.
Speaking on the Political Currency podcast hosted by his former Chancellor , Cameron said: ”Prime Ministers and Ministers ought to have some sort of photographic record, not least because you’re trying to put on social media to explain what you’re doing.
“But I noticed when I went back into government as Foreign Secretary everyone’s got a photographer now and they’re all employed by the government.”
Cameron eventually “totally caved to the pressure” and reversed the decision following Miliband’s criticism.
Richard Holden, the shadow paymaster general, told the Times: “It wasn’t long ago that Red Ed was attacking David Cameron for having an official photographer.”
Meanwhile, people took to X, formerly Twitter, to criticise the vacancy.
Referencing Miliband’s 2010 remarks, @ArchRose90 wrote: “Ed now has his own vanity photographer as everyone else is tightening their belts.”
As leader of the opposition, often struggled with his public image, with several, high-profile mishaps hampering his attempts to challenge Cameron’s .
A front page image of Miliband eating a bacon sandwich became one of the defining images of his time as Labour leader.
Reflecting in 2014, he said: “I am not from Central Casting. You can find people who are more square-jawed, more chiseled. Look less like Wallace.
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Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has also hired a photographer, despite her past criticisms (Image: Getty)
“You could probably even find people who look better eating a bacon sandwich. If you want the politician from Central Casting, it’s just not me, it’s the other guy.”
Deputy Prime Minister has also hired somebody to capture images, despite criticising to “pay for a coterie of vanity photographers”.
Key responsibilities for the role include “delivering high-quality photos,” “travelling across the UK at short notice,” and “handling both long-term campaigns and fast-paced projects with tight deadlines.”
A DESNZ spokesman said the department was recruiting for a photographer to replace an existing role that it inherited from the Conservative government.
A spokesperson said: “This is not a personal photographer for Ed Miliband, the department inherited a full-time photographer from the business department in 2023.
“The person in that role has now left the department, so we are recruiting for a replacement who will cover all of the ministerial team and the department’s work, as well as providing photography for our events and campaigns.”