Miliband aims for gender equality with women making up half of his front bench team

The Labour leader said he was proud of the fact there were more women in the shadow cabinet but insisted that was not enough.

In an interview with former spin doctor Alastair Campbell for the October edition of Red, he said: “We’ve got to get to 50 per cent in the future, and we’ve got to get to 50 per cent of women MPs in parliament for Labour.”

It came as shadow ­business seretary Chuka Umunna warned that Labour needs to show more energy in setting out its vision for government if Mr Miliband is to be Prime Minister next year.

Mr Miliband said: “I said in my conference speech last year, that there was a new feminist movement not satisfied that 40 per cent of Labour’s shadow cabinet are women, and they’re right.

“Cameron did a target and then didn’t make it. I want to let my actions speak for themselves, but I want to get to 50 per cent, yes.”

Mr Miliband also reflected on his image and the suggestion he may be a threat to the success of Labour.

He said: “I’m not saying that having a photo taken and all of that isn’t part of the business. But people hate our political culture. You’ve got to ask why a decreasing number of people are interested in politics.

“And I think part of it is they think we are obsessed by triviality; superficiality, not substance.”