Gardening, writing a novel, taking up origami – there are lots of activities you can indulge in when you lose your job. Ed Miliband has grown a beard.
The Labour MP, who resigned as the party’s leader hours after it became clear he had suffered a devastating loss in May’s general election, has been spotted with an emerging crop of facial hair.
The Milibeard – speckled with grey, fairly short but beyond fashionable stubble – was captured in a selfie at Brisbane airport in Australia by two fellow passengers.
He's looking very swarthy. Could have picked up another 130 constituencies with that salt and pepper growth. pic.twitter.com/xdJrtEamop
— Mike Bird (@Birdyword) August 20, 2015
The amateur paparazzi uploaded the image to Facebook, which their friend, the Business Insider journalist Mike Bird, tweeted and it soon went viral. Twitter users were particularly excited about Miliband’s new fashion statement.
Some speculated that it could be a hairy endorsement for the beard-sporting Labour leadership frontrunner, Jeremy Corbyn.
Proof of #Corbynmania - Ed Miliband has grown a beard!!!! https://t.co/3p0WRLPsyr
— Sophy Ridge (@SophyRidgeSky) August 20, 2015
Abby Tomlinson, the student who founded the Milifandom movement in support of the former Labour leader during the election campaign, has made her mind up.
#milifandom returns? (p.s of course joking, i've already voted online) pic.twitter.com/vLusU1gFmZ
— Abby Tomlinson (@twcuddleston) August 20, 2015
Others, meanwhile, threatened to reignite the heady days of Milifandom as they suggested it enhanced the politician’s sex appeal.
Ed Miliband is proof that men become 97% more attractive when they grow stubble. #Milibeard pic.twitter.com/ZbUZbKAIqr
— Rossalyn Warren (@RossalynWarren) August 20, 2015
Some found it all a little overwhelming.
Miliband's Beard. pic.twitter.com/bwhoragErh
— p0d (@morris_oxford) August 20, 2015
I just cried actual tears over ed miliband's beard I love that man so much
— Chels. (@chelsreynolds1) August 20, 2015
"Miliband's beard!" pic.twitter.com/DK9VkFFtX9
— Dan Beames (@danbeames) August 20, 2015
And inevitably, a Twitter account in the name of Ed Miliband’s Beard emerged.
NO MORE TORY CUTS!
— Ed Miliband's Beard (@MilibandBeard) August 20, 2015
