Ed Miliband falling in Kinnock's trap

*That* bacon butty picture (Image: express.co.uk)

People don't give Ed Miliband enough credit. He hasn't had it easy since when he "betrayed his brother" almost four years ago, tipping the more popular, older and charismatic sibling, David, to lead the Labour Party. The media in particular haven't forgiven him as they believed David would be victorious in September 2010 after Gordon Brown announced his resignation earlier that year.

Ed has been trying so hard to get to the right side of the media and in small bits, his tactic is working. Despite Labour and the Conservatives are neck-and-neck in the polls, Ed is currently clinging on the top spot and some recent reports suggest that if there was to be an election tomorrow, Labour could receive just enough votes to win the general election outright. However, it can be argued that this is because of the Conservatives' failure to connect with the "ordinary public" rather than Labour's vision to give such people a potentially prosperous future.

But even then, with eleven months to go until the big Election Day, Labour haven't really convinced their faithful supporters. They haven't really announced any mind-blowing policies apart from freezing energy bills, the promise to give 16-year-olds the right to vote and the decision not to hold an EU referendum. Ed knows too well that these alone won't convince the public, although, I feel a lot is rising on his party's annual conference in Manchester this September.

It is completely understandable that Ed is taking extra lengths to be so media-active. It's a very powerful tool that can alone convince the public that him, and not David Cameron (or David Miliband) is worthy of being the resident of 10 Downing Street. He wants to be perceived as this family man with a loving wife and to appear in a way that he cares about Britain.

However, with almost four years' experience of being leader of the opposition, Ed should know by now that the media would never give him an easy ride. Much of the British press lean to the right and particularly after Labour's supposedly previous "failings", they aren't likely to give him a chance. And as far as Ed goes, he was never going to prevent the Daily Mail from attacking his immigrant father with his Socialist past and therefore "hated Britain". Neither could he have prevented that unfortunate picture of him munching on a bacon butty from going viral. Unfortunately for Ed, it is how he eats which may determine who wins next year's general election, and not his future policies.

*That* front cover of The Sun in 1992

This bizarre relationship between the press and Labour isn't new. Their 2015 campaign is already mirroring that of the 1992 election when Neil Kinnock was convinced he was on his way to Number 10 after people were daunted by the prospect of another five years under the Conservatives. Many felt 13 years under Margaret Thatcher, then later Sir John Major, was more than enough. However, the press found a way to exploit Kinnock's "weakness" - The Sun kindly spotted that now only he was Welsh, but was a red-head too. So people opted for Major as Prime Minister.

I was too young to remember the 1992 election but my fascination of the relationship between media and politics, has led me to believe that the only disadvantage Kinnock had was his looks. Britain has a track record of voting for people because of their image. One can argue that this was a major contributing factor towards Gordon Brown losing power, as the red-tops kindly indicated in 2010 that his "long-suffering" wife, Sarah, is the only person that fancies him. With Ed however, people look at him and think he resembles the animated fictional character Wallace from "Wallace & Gromit". This resemblance may be staring at people's faces, but if that were to be the case for most people, then they would remember him for that somewhat unfortunate comparison to his political views.

Now, I think Ed Miliband is a credible politician. Despite his desperate attempt to be friends with the papers, he also ensures that he's not the only MP in the Labour cabinet. Shadow Business Secretary, Chuka Umunna, for example, frequently addresses the press while Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Caroline Flint, is often seen in shows like Question Time. You also often see the likes of Harriet Harman, Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper, Sadiq Khan and Diane Abbott as the so-called Labour in the media spotlight, showing that Labour are a team. With the other parties on the other hand, the focus is too much on the individuals. For the Conservatives, the attention is constantly on David Cameron, George Osborne and Boris Johnson while Nick Clegg and Vince Cable are the core presenters of the Liberal Democrats.

I have no doubt that if Ed Miliband did become Prime Minister one day, he'd be a good one. However, I fear that because the media has done not much other than mock him, Labour may not win the next election outright meaning there could be another five years of a Conservative-led government. The press seem to be warming to that idea particularly as the economy is picking up and with the minor parties, including the Greens, are gathering support, Labour needs a new strategy, even if it means dropping its "we're nice people" tactic. They may have to reduce to a level where they have to produce outrageous personalities which has worked out well for the Conservatives with Boris and even the Scottish National Party with Alex Salmond.

Labour are in a sticky situation at present and although their leader is not at fault, his image which is pleasing in the eye to some, may not convince others. They need to start thinking politically, and not morally now.