Can we have a @GeneralBoles follow spree please #Milifans #Milifandom #Milifest #Miliband #HellYesEd pic.twitter.com/lgdGBSKMym
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 21, 2015
He’s not the most obvious icon, but Ed Miliband has become the subject of a growing group calling themselves the “milifans”. Mostly young women, many of whom are studying for school exams, have taken to Twitter to proclaim their affection for the Labour leader.
#milifandom pic.twitter.com/jpx1ABeYRR
Give a gift subscription to the New Statesman this Christmas from just £49
— leon (@LeonGovan) April 21, 2015
The #milifans are also taking on some of the big questions:
In all seriousness, why do ppl have issues with Ed’s facial expressions when David had his pp as this for months? pic.twitter.com/pH1LFUzbNa
— ëd mīłībåbê (@Ed_Milifans) April 21, 2015
Some of the jokes slightly pass this mole by, admittedly:
Ed Miliband calling out David Cameron like https://t.co/HTLARhDnBr
— lyfrcd (@Donovya_) April 20, 2015
“@russellhowhard: ed miliband flower crown edits pic.twitter.com/Z7SyiaXNu7” so beautiful
— ëd mīłībåbê (@Ed_Milifans) April 20, 2015
But some are sheer poetry.
Got a long list of ex-lovers* #milifandom #Miliband #MiliFest *literally pic.twitter.com/JmmHe0quRY
— General Boles (@GeneralBoles) April 21, 2015
Ed Bowie by @StcrevDavid #HellYesEd #CoolEdMiliband pic.twitter.com/8CGxWYIGxw
— Cool Ed Miliband (@cooledmiliband) April 20, 2015
• “Why are you voting for Labour?” – “Ed Miliband is my fave MC” • “You mean MP?” – “No…” pic.twitter.com/xuiiotF8qz
— Ara (@Ara__Sh) April 19, 2015
Only tru milifans will remember pic.twitter.com/UmesBG6BHw
— emily (@emilyhwkns) April 21, 2015
Most importantly, the Milifans are genuinely engaged in politics. Many of them tweet about studying the subject, and the de facto leader of the fandom, a 17-year-old named Abby, is urging other young people to take an interest in Labour policy.
Policies are the most important thing. #VoteLabour pic.twitter.com/KlGBS3VzF7
— abby (@twcuddleston) April 21, 2015
If there’s a Milifan in your life, you can buy them a “lifesize” cardboard cut out:
Which, helpfully, can also serve as a sort of domestic scarcrow.
But whatever you do, proceed with caution:
this all started out as a joke but now i think i legitimately fancy ed miliband
— ellie✨ (@elliegalaxies) April 19, 2015
***BREAKING: Ed Miliband has replied!***
@twcuddleston Hi Abby – Delighted that you’ve joined Labour, welcome.
— Ed Miliband (@Ed_Miliband) April 22, 2015
So smooth.
ANOTHER UPDATE! He’s commented on the Milifandom!
During an interview with Radio 2, Ed’s commented on his new fans. “I told my wife about it and she thought it must be a case of mistaken identity,” he told Jeremy Vine. “She went from amused to bemused.”
“I’m definitely blushing now,” he said, before a saucy bit of self-deprecation: “I certainly wouldn’t claim to be cool… I’ve never been called that.”
He added that the person who started the fandom is making a “serious” point about young people being given a voice. Swoon.
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