Sunken nose: Ed Miliband, left, a year ago and
right, this week, his nose appeared to be dented like a veteran rugby player
or boxer
Last updated at 7:59 AM on 20th January 2012
He has admitted he’s no sex symbol.
Now Ed Miliband’s appearance has come under scrutiny again – this time for the shape of his nose.
A recent photograph seems to show a change in the Labour leader’s profile, giving him a sunken look more often associated with boxers and rugby players.
Sunken nose: Ed Miliband, left, a year ago and
right, this week, his nose appeared to be dented like a veteran rugby player
or boxer
His nose seems to have flattened in a similar way to that of someone who has had it broken.
The change has been observed in Westminster, with one MP remarking he looks like a ‘veteran of the boxing ring’.
The cause is unknown, although colleagues have speculated it could be a delayed side effect of the surgery he had last July to correct a deviated septum.
Last night, his spokesman would not comment except to say that the operation was purely for medical reasons.
The change is thought to have occurred in the past 10 months, as the image on the left was taken at a press conference in March last year.
The second photo, which shows his nose slanting sharply downwards, was taken earlier this week.
At the time of his operation, aides insisted it was not being carried out to improve Mr Miliband’s voice following criticism of his nasal tones.
Attempting to make light of the operation, Mr Miliband, 42, coined it ‘Ed Nose Day’ and told the Labour conference: ‘I had a deviated septum and it needed repositioning. Typical Labour leader... he gets elected and everything moves to the centre.’
Earlier this month, he appeared on Radio 4 in interview with John Humphrys, where he was forced to confront questions about his appearance.
He also dismissed a suggestion that, like former Labour minister Robin Cook, he was ‘too ugly’ to run for party leader.