Ed Miliband chooses smart-casual family photo for Christmas card Miliband family photograph taken during Labour party conference Party leader walking with wife Justine and sons Samuel and Daniel David Cameron opts for snap with wife Samantha and daughter Florence Ex-UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom poses with bongo drums and wife as a 'slut' Sending a Christmas card should be a chance to wish season's greetings and make vague promises to catch up in the New Year. But for political leaders it is increasingly a carefully choreographed, intensely observed photo opportunity to present themselves as a relaxed man of the people. Labour leader Ed Miliband today released his smart-casual festive offering, featuring his wife and sons in a pose which would not look out of place in a mail order catalogue. Labour leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine take their children Daniel (left) and Sam (right) for a walk along Brighton beach, in a photograph chosen for his official Christmas card The Miliband family portrait shows Mr Miliband and wife Justine with their sons Daniel and Samuel. It was taken during a walk along Brighton beach at the start of the Labour Party conference earlier this year as the family headed out to a play park before the heavy political agenda got under way. In smart trousers and a grey pullover, Mr Miliband appears to be straining to look relaxed. When the pictures were taken in September it was noted that they were markedly different to Gordon Brown's refusal to be photographed with his own young children. But Labour strategists made clear that they wanted to give Mrs Miliband a more high profile role in a bid to give her husband a popularity boost. The release of the Labour leader's card comes after Number 10 revealed David Cameron's three-year-old daughter Florence has been given a starring role in the Prime Minister's official Christmas card - for the second time. Rest assured, any cards sent from family Farage will be suitably festive rather than have my face on it UKIP leader Nigel Farage The outspoken MEP Godfrey Bloom does not take himself so seriously. But his old boss, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, takes a very different view about the trend for political leaders to feature in their own cards. 'Rest assured, any cards sent from family Farage will be suitably festive rather than have my face on it,' he said. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond revealed his official Christmas card last week, an imposing artwork of the fourth wise man who turned up too late to see Jesus. He opted for the bleak, sinewy painting of Artaban by Scottish artist Peter Howson.