A good thing there's no international crisis, ministers! Labour's Miliband and Healey blasted for 'pretending to be influencers' by filming social media stunt in a tuktuk at Bangkok summit
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Labour's Ed Miliband and John Healey have come under fire for 'pretending to be influencers' by filming a stunt social media clip while at key international meetings.
The Foreign Secretary and Chancellor were filmed tasting Thai snacks in a tuktuk while in Bangkok this week for crucial talks with foreign counterparts.
Their decision to devote some of their time to the video while at annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank has drawn fierce criticism.
It comes as the ongoing Middle East crisis and Ukraine war continue to generate political and economic turmoil across the globe.
And Mr Healey is less than two weeks away from a challenging Budget, in which he is facing increasingly tough decisions over tax and spending to balance the books.
Andrew Griffith, the Tory shadow chancellor, said: 'Are they serious?!
'We have record-high borrowing costs. Fuel prices are through the roof, taxpayers are fleeing Britain, and we have a youth unemployment crisis.
'Meanwhile, the Chancellor is pretending to be an influencer.'
— Andrew Griffith MP (@griffitha) October 15, 2026Are they serious?!
We have record-high borrowing costs. Fuel prices are through the roof, taxpayers are fleeing Britain, and we have a youth unemployment crisis.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor is pretending to be an influencer… https://t.co/LAaPZeDPks
Labour's Ed Miliband and John Healey have come under fire for 'pretending to be influencers' by filming a stunt social media clip while at key international meetings
The Foreign Secretary and Chancellor were filmed tasting Thai snacks in a tuktuk while in Bangkok this week for crucial talks with foreign counterparts
Their decision to devote some of their time to the video while at annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank has drawn fierce criticism
The social media clip, set to upbeat music, shows the two Cabinet ministers sampling local foods while riding the three-wheeled vehicle popular with tourists to Thailand.
In the video, the pair say the Thai snacks are 'better than scampi fries' and 'arguably better than pork scratchings'.
Mr Miliband, in reference to a famous photo of him with a bacon sandwich, jokes: 'Eating on camera has not been my forte, John, but I'm going to have a go.'
Mr Healey has warned the public to be prepared for a tough Budget on October 28 when he presents his first fiscal package to the House of Commons.
He and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have vowed to help families and firms with cost of living pressures worsened by US President Donald Trump's war with Iran.
Speaking to the BBC from the IMF meeting, Mr Healey said: 'It's a tough time.
'People can see the global economic conflicts, they know the pressure it's putting on them, they understand it's putting pressure on the Government.'
He also suggested Whitehall departments may not be given extra cash to cover pay rises for doctors and nurses.
'Where we want to do things, we have to make sure that we can pay for them within the budgets that we've got and control spending,' he added.
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