Vote Leave: After Milibrand, Ed should really know better than trying to win young voters
A Conservative MP has told Ed Miliband he should stay out of the EU referendum campaign and mocked his attempts to win young support by pairing up with comedian-cum-activist Russell Brand before last year's General Election.
James Cleverly said the former Labour leader was making a "cynical attempt" to woo young voters ahead of the In/Out vote next month, as Miliband hit the campaign trail this week with events across the country.
"Ed Miliband's cynical attempt to convince young people … will fool no-one. After his failed efforts to court the youth vote via Russell Brand last year, you'd think he would know better."
Brand has used his profile as a comedian to campaign on a number of issues over recent years, including what he sees as rising inequality and poor social mobility in the UK.
Ed Miliband being interviewed by Russell Brand in his London home in 2015.
Last year, with opinion polls showing the UK heading for a hung parliament, Ed Miliband agreed to be interviewed by Brand as part of his YouTube series, "The Trews" – a portmanteau of "truth" and "news" in a slight at perceived media bias.
The fifteen minute interview (below) caused a stir just days before the general election with Brand, who previously declared he would not support anybody in the election, lending his backing to Miliband.
Immediately after the vote, however, Brand said his endorsement could have "f***ed up the election" for the Labour Party.
Cleverly, who launched the attack on behalf of the Vote Leave campaign, won the Braintree seat for the Conservatives in last year's general election and is campaigning to leave the EU.
Miliband today warned against Brexit, called on young people to make sure they register to vote, and attacked the negative and insular messages coming from the Leave campaign.