Here is Eric Pickles' legendary performance from Question Time last week. Note his assurance that the fact he sometimes has to be in Westminster for 9.30 entirely justifies his being bought a second home at public expense. Bear in mind too that Pickles was promoted to leaven the Cameroons with some Northern common sense. He was meant to be rough, tough and gruff from somewhere like Brough (an...

Eric Pickles, Conservative Party Chairman and Monty Python on Question Time.

Eric Pickles may be the darling of the Tory grassroots, however he was not the darling of the Question Time audience last Thursday in Newcastle upon Tyne. Eric lives 37 miles away from the House of Commons, yet he has a flat in London which he stays in during the week. When he bought this flat, the Commons was still sitting until the wee small hours of the morning. He defended his decision to use ...

Writing on Conservative Home, Tim Montgomerie reports that Eric Pickles, the new Tory chairman, is off on a tour of Conservative/Lib Dem marginals in the West Country. He goes on: this visit communicates two of the big themes that Eric Pickles wants to characterise his tenure at CCHQ: graft (he promises to match the sacrifice of volunteers) and a focus on the LibDems. With opinion polls pointing t...

Earlier this week I asked why the Tories have not been making more of their party chairman Eric Pickles by putting him on television. Now, having seen last night's edition of Question Time, I know the answer. He started perfectly well, and then the issue of MPs second homes came up. A slow-motion car crash ensued. Pickles tried to explain why he needs a second home in London paid for by the t...

Eric Pickles has been interviewed by Andrew Neil on the BBC STRAIGHT TALK programme, which goes out on the New Channel tomorrow. Here's the exchange about his experience on last week's QUESTION TIME. Andrew Neil: You were also brought in because you were seen to be a man of the people, so how could a man of the people make such a Horlicks of Question Time, as you did last week? Eric Pick...

Have just watched the bit of Question Time last night where Tory chairman Eric Pickles got a deserved roasting over his expense claims: Audience Member: “Do you think Fred Goodwin should give some of his pension back Eric?” Eric Pickles: “Yeah, I do.” Audience Member: “Right - that’s because he’s behaved immorally, unreasonably perhaps. But he’s play...

We ran a Q&A with Eric Pickles back in August.  But as he's had an eventful few months since then - what with being made chairman of the Tory party, as well as his appearance on Question Time a couple of weeks ago - Eric has kindly agreed to another Q&A with CoffeeHousers now. Same drill as usual: just put your questions for Eric in the comments section below; we'll ...

I like Eric Pickles. He's one of the most competent members of Cameron's team, with a formidable intellect and grasp of policy. He's also the one man who can mastermind a big-bang devolution of government from Whitehall to Town Hall. Eric's Parliamentary expenses claims are relatively modest. His savaging at the hands of the Question Time audience was really more because he was...

Eric Pickles goes ballistic on Question Time. Clip here. Transcript below from The Telegraph's Three Line Whip. It is hilarious and Pickles certainly demonstrates the art of sanctimonious pomposity. He doesn't seem to realise how weak and pathetic his defence seems from the point of view of ordinary members of the public.David Dimbleby began by asking Mr Pickles if he claims for a second home:EP: