Letting journalists poke about in politicians’ kitchens is clearly a dangerous business as Labour leader Ed Miliband and his wife Justine discovered recently.

Not only did they have to endure unpleasant headlines in the Daily Mail about how their basic kitchen demonstrated how “mirthless” they are but accusations they were downplaying their wealth by showing off their least luxurious one.

Not for the first time did I wonder about the peculiar psychology of our nation where elections are fought – and lost – in the kitchen.

And yet it is true that kitchens, possibly more than any other room in the house, reveal our personalities most readily.

I was once friendly with a couple of married Yorkshire Labour politicians and was afforded a brief, fascinating glimpse into their house.

It was so gloriously functional it was like stepping inside a hotel with not a photograph, dirty work top or a stained tea towel in sight.

They were far from ‘mirthless’ but it certainly revealed an important aspect of their lives – ruthless go-getters who spent all their lives in endless meetings.

And when it comes to new inhabitants entering 10 Downing Street what to do about the kitchen takes on a surreal aspect.

Civil servants have to be consulted about the costs and there are all sorts of complicated rules of which bits Government pays for and which the lucky couple have to stump up for.

When the Camerons moved into the four-bedroom flat above No 11 (like the Blairs they needed the space) there was an outcry from an MP over the £30,000 cost of the kitchen revamp. “More than a nurse’s salary” was the outcry.

And given Dave’s status as a wealthy Old Etonian he has to calculate how many votes might be lost if the urge for a more stylish kitchen gets out of hand.

Thinking about my own history I would say that on a good day my kitchen reflects a sunny, creative side and on a less good one, idle and procrastinating.