Ed Miliband plans surgery for his voice

Labour leader Ed Miliband is to have an operation to improve his voice, it was reported last night.

The Labour-supporting Daily Mirror said Mr Miliband had been advised by his aides to have surgery because he sounds "bunged up" when he speaks.

The paper reported that he is expected to have his adenoids – which are the fleshy growths behind the nose – removed during Parliament's summer recess starting in July. Last night Labour refused to comment, with officials insisting that the party did not discuss medical treatments as a matter of principle.

The operation is usually performed under general anaesthetic and needs about one week's recovery time.

Some Labour media advisers have been concerned about Mr Miliband's voice since he defeated older brother David in the party leadership election last September. One party insider said: "Ed should have had it done before he stood for the job. It's a conversation that has been had."

During a phone-in on BBC Radio 2 early this year, one caller complained about Mr Miliband's "growling voice".