Justine Miliband has dismissed the media storm around the 'two kitchens ' debate by saying there is more important things in politics than their home . In an interview with The Guardian , the Labour leader 's wife , known professionally as Justine Thornton , said that the media storm surrounding which kitchen she and her husband , Ed , used in their north London home was not what mattered in politics . 'Ed 's grandad died because of politics . He met people who were assassinated because of politics , ' she said . Small : Ed Miliband 's 'functional kitchenette ' was the smaller of his two kitchens , leading to claims they were trying to appear to live modestly . Spacious : The Prime Minister was pictured in his large kitchen chopping tomatoes , while chatting to BBC deputy political editor James Landale . 'There is a really , really serious side to politics and there is this other side . I just do n't see the point in getting worried about it . 'Or you just have a sense of humour about it . At the end of the day , none of that is that important . There are really serious issues and it is down to people to make a choice about what they see as serious . ' The great kitchen debate started after it emerged Ed Miliband , posing for a cup of tea with Justine , had plumped for the photograph in the smaller of his two kitchens . Hands-on : Justine Miliband , pictured here with Ed , say she is looking forward to talking to voters . He insisted he preferred his 'functional kitchenette ' - complete with a hob , two ovens and a sink - while a family friend revealed it was mainly used for 'tea and quick snacks ' . The bland room , painted white with a grey floor , looked cold and rather dingy compared to the kitchens at the Prime Minister 's two homes . At home : Equipped with a hob , two ovens and a sink , the Miliband 's second kitchen is said to be where they make 'tea and quick snacks ' David Cameron 's kitchen at his Oxfordshire home was seen as far more bright and airy , with plenty of room to prepare meals . But the environmental law barrister said the shade of the kitchen was not important , while pledging to take a more vocal position than than most leaders ' wives . She said : ' I 'm looking forward to getting out and talking to voters , and to first-time voters in particular . '
Justine said there was a serious threat to privacy and ' this other side ' controversy started after Miliband 's arrival in smaller of their two homes . The environmental justice barrister said she would take hands - on approach .