Ed Miliband: Labour Leader Ridiculed For Awkward Donation To Manchester Beggar

Miliband criticised for exploiting beggar

Ed Miliband has been accused of looking awkward as he gave money to a beggar on the streets of Manchester.

The Labour leader was photographed putting some change into a homeless woman's cardboard cup while on a trip to drum up support for devolution.

But the gesture backfired when observers claimed Miliband looked awkward handing the woman money.

He was also criticised for appearing to hand the beggar just a handful of pennies and exploiting the woman.

How low can you sink @Ed_Miliband , exploiting a beggar. Can just imagine your outcry if DC did what you did. #Labour = gross vileness.
— Ribble Valley Man (@RVM_2000) October 31, 2014

Ed Miliband earns £132,387 a year - his lawyer wife earns much more. This afternoon he gave a beggar tuppence. pic.twitter.com/TidZvOuwf7
— Harry Phibbs (@harryph) October 31, 2014

Perhaps only Ed Miliband could balls up giving money to a beggar.
— Mark Wallace (@wallaceme) October 31, 2014

However, Miliband did garner some support on social media:

Leave off Ed Miliband. Would you ever see Cameron giving money to a beggar? I don't think so.
— Rufus_Jay (@Rufus_Jay) October 31, 2014

So hang on, Boris steps over a beggar, what a classic bloke. Ed Miliband gives money to a beggar, 'doesn't he look awkward?' Stay classy, UK
— Tomb Lack (@tomblackuk) October 31, 2014

In June, Miliband vowed to concentrate on policies rather than photo opportunities, after he was snapped looking pained while eating a bacon sandwich.

Commenting on the incident, he said: "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."

Ed Miliband