The revelation that Ed Miliband has two kitchens dominated the political agenda last week. Besides the fuss about the lime green recycling bin, does the row say more about how the Labour leader is treated by the media, Twitter and voters – that, whatever he does, he’s damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t?

1. Kitchengate

Pictures from a BBC interview with Miliband’s wife Justine last week showed the couple standing in a small, clutter-free kitchen, having a cup of tea. In The Daily Mail, Sarah Vine wrote how extraordinary it was that, despite living in a £2m-plus townhouse, the Milibands had a kitchen that was a “mean, sterile, little box” that could have been in a “Communist-era housing block in Minsk”. Then it emerged that this was a “functional kitchenette” and the family have a second, larger kitchen downstairs. It seems no one can decide whether the Labour leader is a stingy, joyless weirdo or a lavish Champagne socialist.

2. Justine

Justine Miliband didn't give interviews for more than four years (Getty) It is the dilemma that all party leaders face: put your spouse on the political frontline to show you’re a well-rounded family man or woman, or keep them in the background? Nick Clegg’s wife, Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, last year ditched the tradition of joining her husband onstage for his party conference speech, and it was as if the Lib Dems had brought back hanging. Justine Miliband resisted doing an interview for more than four years, until last week, at which time she came out with the plea to be considered as “more than just a dress” and it was open season – on her kitchen, too.

3. Bacon sandwich

As someone educated at Oxford and Harvard, Ed Miliband has always been accused of being a lofty intellectual out of touch with “real people”. So, last May, on the campaign trail for the local and European elections, he ate a bacon sandwich while talking to a couple of voters. Even though no one looks good tucking into a bacon buttie, the pictures of his inelegant munching turned into a major gaffe. The term “bacon sandwich” is now the most Googled alongside Miliband’s name.

3. Photo-opportunities

After weeks of ridicule over the bacon sandwich, other “gaffes”, and the fact that he bears a close resemblance to the animated character Wallace, Miliband gave a self-deprecating speech last July, saying there was “more to politics than the photo-op” while admitting that he didn’t look like the politician from “central casting”. This frank confession has now been turned against him, and every time he is pictured with his family or out meeting voters he is accused of being a hypocrite.

In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Show all 18 1 /18 In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The beggar Ed Miliband casually gives money to a homeless woman in Manchester, surrounded by press photographers. In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband buys a bacon sandwich from cafe owner Antonios Foufas at New Covent Garden Market in London as he kicks off a day of campaigning on the eve of the local and European elections In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband chats with a cafe owner Antonios Foufas at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Bacon Sandwich Ed Miliband embarked on a whirlwind campaign tour of England - but struggled at the first hurdle (a bacon sandwich). Aides intervened after just a few less-than-elegant bites Jeremy Selwyn In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Flower Shopping Ed Miliband talks with a couple of traders at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Flower Shopping Ed Miliband purchases some red roses for his wife at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Talking Business Ed Miliband talks with a trader at New Covent Garden Market in London In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Good Morning Britain Miliband on ITV's Good Morning Britain show on 20 May 2014, a day of gaffes in which he was also caught out by BBC Wiltshire for not knowing who the local Labour leader was In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal '£70 Weekly Shop' Ed was accused of being 'out of touch with reality' after he seemed not to know what he - or the average British family - spends on a weekly food shop PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Nick Clegg Broadcast Ed Miliband took a (mis?)calculated risk with a recent political broadcast containing a satirical attack on a shrunken, naked Nick Clegg – but no details of Labour policies Getty In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Drop in Polls Ed Miliband paid a visit to Leighton Hospital in Crewe to speak with the staff about the NHS, but faced difficult questions about polls showing his personal ratings falling well behind those David Cameron and George Osborne PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal On the Sofa with Farage Ed Miliband appeared on the Andrew Marr Show to debate with Nigel Farage - but has all but conceded defeat in the Newark by-election, allowing Ukip a free run at the Tories BBC In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Wollies in Wellies Miliband was among a number of politicians to come under fire for 'touring' the floods in the South and South West earlier this year PA In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Wollies in Wellies The Labour leader admitted it was 'a difficult decision for politicians whether to visit areas like this' In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Missed Opportunity Miliband's performance at the Labour conference last year failed to make much of an impression on voters, polls suggested Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Sharing the Moment Miliband, Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Angus Robinson enjoy their moment with Andy Murray, after the tennis player's Wimbledon win Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal Casual Husband Miliband and his wife Justine are pictured in their hotel room in Brighton as he prepares to give his keynote speech to the annual Labour Party Conference Getty Images In pictures: Ed Miliband trying to look normal The Milibands Just your average family of four? Getty Images

4. Beggar

Last October, Miliband, while being followed by reporters and photographers, walked past a woman begging for change. He then doubled back and dropped some money in her cup. There were claims that it was just a 2p coin – but the woman herself said he had given her more. Yet if he had walked past her, he would have been criticised for being heartless for ignoring a homeless person.

5. Seeing Obama

Miliband, unlike his predecessors Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, has been criticised for not having strong international credentials, including with the most important contact of all, the President of the United States. So when he and his team were granted an audience with Barack Obama and his aides, you would think this would have silenced critics. But, no, Miliband was traduced for taking part in another cynical photo-opportunity while also missing a parliamentary debate on Ukraine.

6. Falling asleep at St Paul’s