View source for Eric Pickles

{{Short description|British Conservative politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
|name             = The Lord Pickles
|honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|PC}} 
|image            = Official portrait of Lord Pickles crop 2, 2025.jpg
|caption          = Official portrait, 2025
|office           = [[United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues]] 
|primeminister    = {{ubl|[[David Cameron]]|[[Theresa May]]|[[Boris Johnson]]|[[Liz Truss]]|[[Rishi Sunak]]|[[Keir Starmer]]}}
|term_start       = 10 September 2015
|term_end         = 
|predecessor      = [[Robert Andrew Burns]]
|successor        = 
|office1          = [[Cabinet Office|United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion]]
|primeminister1   = {{ubl|David Cameron|Theresa May}}
|term_start1      = 11 May 2015
|term_end1        = 11 December 2017
|predecessor1     = [[Matt Hancock]] 
|successor1       = [[John Penrose]]
|office2          = [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]]
|primeminister2   = David Cameron
|term_start2      = 12 May 2010
|term_end2        = 11 May 2015
|predecessor2     = [[John Denham (politician)|John Denham]]
|successor2       = [[Greg Clark]]
|office3          = [[Minister for Faith and Communities|Minister of State for Faith]]
|primeminister3   = David Cameron
|term_start3      = 6 August 2014
|term_end3        = 11 May 2015
|predecessor3     = [[The Baroness Warsi]]
|successor3       = [[Nick Bourne|The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth]]{{efn|Office vacant between 11 May 2015 and 17 July 2016.}}
|office4          = [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]
|leader4          = David Cameron
|term_start4      = 19 January 2009
|term_end4        = 12 May 2010
|predecessor4     = [[Caroline Spelman]]
|successor4       = {{ubl|[[Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree|The Lord Feldman of Elstree]]|The Baroness Warsi}}
|office5          = [[Member of the House of Lords]]
|status5          = [[Lord Temporal]]
|termlabel5       = Assumed [[life peer]]age
|term_start5      = 18 June 2018
|term_end5        = 
|office6          = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Brentwood and Ongar]]
|term_start6      = 9 April 1992
|term_end6        = 3 May 2017
|predecessor6     = [[Robert McCrindle]]
|successor6       = [[Alex Burghart]]
|title7           = Shadow Cabinet portfolios
|suboffice7       = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and the Regions]]
|subterm7         = 2002
|suboffice8       = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government]]
|subterm8         = 2003–2005
|suboffice9       = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]]
|subterm9         = 2007–2009
|birth_name       = Eric Jack Pickles
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1952|4|20|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [[Keighley]], England
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|party            = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|spouse           = Irene Coates
|alma_mater       = [[Leeds Metropolitan University]]
|website          = {{URL|ericpickles.com|Official website}} <br> {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/people/eric-pickles|gov.uk}} 
|module = {{Listen
|embed = yes
|filename=Eric Pickles BBC Radio4 Desert Island Discs 9 Dec 2012 b01p6ryx.flac
|title=Pickles' voice
|type=speech
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}}

'''Eric Jack Pickles, Baron Pickles''', {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|PC}} (born 20 April 1952) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] politician who served as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Brentwood and Ongar]] from [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]] to [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]. He served in [[David Cameron]]'s [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] as [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]] from 2010 to 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-05-11/eric-pickles-to-be-replaced-as-communities-secretary |title=Eric Pickles to be replaced as Communities' Secretary |website=itv.com |access-date=12 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150515012612/http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-05-11/eric-pickles-to-be-replaced-as-communities-secretary/ |archive-date=15 May 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> During his time at the Communities and Local Government department, [[Grenfell tower]] was renovated using highly combustable cladding, something Pickles was later heavily criticised for allowing during the subsequent inquiry following a [[Grenfell Tower fire|fire at the tower in June 2017]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |last2=Whitehall |first2=Mason |title=Eric Pickles urged to quit as Tory peer over Grenfell inquiry criticism |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/06/eric-pickles-urged-to-quit-as-tory-peer-over-grenfell-inquiry-criticism |website=The Guardian |access-date=3 July 2025 |date=6 September 2024}}</ref> There were calls for Pickles to resign as a Conservative party peer from the [[House of Lords]], but he refused to do so.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bodkin |first1=Henry |title=Lord Pickles blames ‘middle-ranking’ civil servants over Grenfell tragedy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/09/06/lord-pickles-blames-middle-ranking-civil-servants-grenfell/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=3 July 2025 |date=6 September 2024}}</ref> He previously served as [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]] from 2009 to 2010 and was later the United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion from 2015 to 2017.

Pickles was appointed the [[UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues|UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues]] in 2015.<ref name="gov.uk">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/eric-pickles|title=The Rt Hon Sir Eric Pickles – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=9 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106110523/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/eric-pickles|archive-date=6 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> He stood down as an MP at the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], but continued in his role as Special Envoy under Prime Ministers [[Theresa May]], [[Boris Johnson]], [[Liz Truss]] and [[Rishi Sunak]]. He is the chairman of [[Conservative Friends of Israel]] in the [[House of Lords]] as of 2023.<ref>{{cite web | title=About CFI | publisher= Conservative Friends of Israel| url=https://cfoi.co.uk/aboutcfi/ | access-date=4 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|
url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/140638/sir-eric-pickles-lead-mps%E2%80%99-delegation-israel|
title=Eric Pickles to lead MPs' delegation to Israel|
date=24 July 2015|
work=The Jewish Chronicle|
access-date=27 August 2015|
archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821155502/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/140638/sir-eric-pickles-lead-mps%E2%80%99-delegation-israel|
archive-date=21 August 2015|
url-status=live}}</ref>

==Early life==
Eric Jack Pickles was born on 20 April 1952, the son of Jack and Constance Pickles.<ref>''Dod's Parliamentary Companion'', 2010, p. 290</ref> Born in [[Keighley]], [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], he attended Greenhead Grammar School (now [[Carlton Keighley]]) and then studied at [[Leeds Polytechnic]]. He was born into a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]-supporting family – his great-grandfather was one of the founders of the [[Independent Labour Party]], and Pickles described himself as "massively inclined" towards communism as a boy.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Watts |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/eric-pickles-tells-of-communist-past-as-eric-the-red-hpv2bjmtz2l |title=Eric Pickles tells of communist past as Eric the Red |access-date=22 November 2009 |date=22 November 2009 |work=The Times |location=London |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430104634/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6926960.ece |archive-date=30 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Young Conservatives==
After the [[Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia|Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia]], he joined the local Keighley Branch of the Young Conservatives in 1968, later commenting "I joined because of the invasion of Czechoslovakia. I was so shocked by the tanks. It was not the best way of fighting Brezhnev, but it made me feel better".<ref name="x8">{{cite book  |last=Grogan |first=Tony |title=The Pickles Papers |chapter-url=http://www.1in12.com/publications/archive/thepicklespapers/pickleschap2.html |chapter= Chapter 2: Man of Mystery (Paragraph 15)|location=Bradford |publisher=1 in 12 Publications |year=1989 |isbn=0-948994-04-5 }} [http://www.1in12.com/publications/archive/thepicklespapers/picklesintro.html (free electronic edition, October 1996)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711032852/http://www.1in12.com/publications/archive/thepicklespapers/picklesintro.html |date=11 July 2015 }}</ref><ref name="Bluff diamond">{{cite news
|first=Peter
|last=Hetherington
|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/02/localgovernment.localgovernment
|title=Bluff diamond
|access-date=31 July 2008
|date=2 July 2008
|newspaper=The Guardian
|location=London
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150916171810/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2008/jul/02/localgovernment.localgovernment
|archive-date=16 September 2015
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

Pickles soon became the chairman of the local [[Young Conservatives (UK)|Young Conservatives]] association.<ref name="Bluff diamond"/> During his time in the Young Conservatives he became a member of the Joint Committee Against Racism from 1982 to 1987 and later became its chairman.<ref>Dod's Parliamentary Companion 2005, 173 edition, London 2004, p.275</ref>
His period as national Young Conservative chairman saw growing factionalism with challenges from a southern-based right wing to Pickles' moderate leadership.<ref name="x8"/> Pickles also moved against right-wingers in Bradford, expelling the Young Conservative, Yorkshire Chairman of the Monday Club who had stood for the Bradford Wyke Ward on an anti-immigrant platform from the Bradford area constituencies.<ref name="x8"/><ref>City Limits magazine, 9–16 August 1990, p.8.</ref><ref>City Limits 30 August – 6 September 1990: Letter from Monday Club.</ref><ref>Leeds Other Paper July 1990</ref>

==Bradford councillor==
Pickles was first elected to [[City of Bradford|Bradford Council]] in 1979, representing the Worth Valley ward.<ref name="Bluff diamond"/> From 1982 to 1984, he chaired that Council's Social Services Committee, and then, from 1984 to 1986, he chaired the Education Committee.<ref>[http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/18495 Profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413065420/http://www.debretts.com/people-of-today/profile/18495 |date=13 April 2015 }}, Debretts.com; accessed 16 July 2014.</ref> Between 1988 and 1990, he served as leader of the Conservative group on the council. In September 1988 the Conservative Party gained control by using the Conservative mayor's casting vote to become the only inner-city council to be controlled by the Conservatives.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

When Bradford Council was hung, Pickles opted to break the agreement that the position of Lord Mayor is rotated between the parties, when he put a Conservative mayor in place again.<ref name="independent 24 January 2009">{{cite news|last=Vallely|first=Paul|title=Eric Pickles: The Tory heavyweight|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/eric-pickles-the-tory-heavyweight-1514541.html|access-date=6 July 2010|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=24 January 2009|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008132450/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/eric-pickles-the-tory-heavyweight-1514541.html|archive-date=8 October 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> This effectively gave the Conservatives a majority due to the Lord Mayor's casting vote. To do this, they also broke the tradition that the Lord Mayor kept the status quo.

Whilst at Bradford, Pickles announced a five-year plan to cut the council's budget by £50m, reduce the workforce by a third, privatise services and undertake council departmental restructures, many of which proved controversial.<ref name="independent 24 January 2009"/> A book, ''The Pickles Papers'', by Tony Grogan, was written about this period in Pickles' life.<ref name="x8"/>

==Parliamentary career==
Pickles was elected as Member of Parliament for [[Brentwood and Ongar]] in 1992.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

At the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], the [[independent politician]] [[Martin Bell]], who had been the MP for [[Tatton (UK Parliament constituency)|Tatton]], having run a campaign of "anti-sleaze", stood against Pickles, due to accusations that the [[Peniel Pentecostal Church]] had infiltrated the local Conservative branch.<ref name=Beeb>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/world_at_one/programme_highlights/1061583.stm|title=Martin Bell to run for MP again|work=BBC News|date=8 December 2000|access-date=14 August 2012}}</ref> Pickles's vote was reduced from 45.4% to 38%, but he retained his seat by a margin of 2,821 votes (6.5%) becoming elected with 38% of the votes against Bell's 31.5%.

Pickles served as Shadow [[Secretary of State for Transport|Minister for Transport]] and Shadow [[Minister for London]] from September 2001 to June 2002, then as Shadow Minister for [[Department of Communities and Local Government|Local Government]] from June 2002.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]] Pickles held his seat with 53.5% of the votes and an increased majority of 11,612 (26.3%), nearly as many as the number of votes for the second-placed candidate, making this the second-safest Conservative seat in Eastern England, with Pickles taking the third-highest share of the vote cast in the region.<ref>House of Commons Research Paper 05/33 – The General Election 2005</ref>

On 2 July 2007, [[David Cameron]] appointed Pickles to a reshuffled [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|Shadow Cabinet]] as shadow [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]]. On 30 December 2008, according to reports in ''The Times'', Pickles unveiled plans to "purge town hall 'fat cats'". ''The Times'' reported that under the plans "dozens of council chiefs who earn more than Cabinet ministers would lose their jobs as clusters of councils merged their frontline services and backroom operations to provide better value for money."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5416096.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130040429/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5416096.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 January 2009|title=Tories plan purge of town hall 'fat cats' – Times Online|date=30 January 2009}}</ref> Of the eight highest-earning chief executives listed in ''The Times''' report, six were employed by councils run by the Conservative party, one by Labour and one by the Liberal Democrats.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Pickles was the campaign manager for the successful [[Crewe and Nantwich by-election]] in May 2008. Following this, he was promoted to [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]], a post he held from January 2009 to May 2010.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

In early 2010, Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] outlined plans to reform the voting system in the United Kingdom. Pickles defended the [[Plurality voting system|first-past-the-post]] system as resulting in stable government and attacked Brown, claiming he "now wants to fiddle the electoral system" by wanting to change the voting system.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gordon Brown outlines plans to reform UK voting system|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8492622.stm|access-date=22 April 2013|work=BBC News|date=2 February 2010}}</ref>

Pickles was the [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]] in the coalition government headed by Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] from 12 May 2010 to May 2015.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

Although a former [[Euroscepticism in the United Kingdom|Eurosceptic]],<ref>{{cite news|last1=Leftly|first1=Mark|title=Eric Pickles becomes latest Eurosceptic to drift to pro-Europe side as infighting continues|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-eric-pickles-becomes-latest-eurosceptic-to-drift-to-pro-europe-side-as-infighting-a6858141.html|access-date=10 February 2016|work=[[The Independent]]|date=6 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208082043/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/eu-referendum-eric-pickles-becomes-latest-eurosceptic-to-drift-to-pro-europe-side-as-infighting-a6858141.html|archive-date=8 February 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> in January 2016 Pickles became a founding member of the group Conservatives For Reform In Europe, a campaign to remain in the [[European Union]] on the basis that the EU would be reformed by the [[2015–2016 United Kingdom renegotiation of European Union membership|negotiations]] then being led by Prime Minister David Cameron.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Conservatives for Reform in Europe|url=https://www.reformineurope.org/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202003627/https://www.reformineurope.org/|archive-date=2 February 2016}}</ref>

In April 2017, Pickles announced he would not stand at the general election the following month.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-04-22|title=Sir Eric Pickles to quit as MP|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-39677950|access-date=2021-04-02}}</ref> Later that year, he was appointed chairman of the journal [[The Parliamentary Review|''Parliamentary Review'']].<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 September 2017|title=Sir Eric Pickles joins The Parliamentary Review|url=https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/articles/sir-eric-pickles-joins-the-parliamentary-review|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504010842/https://www.theparliamentaryreview.co.uk/articles/sir-eric-pickles-joins-the-parliamentary-review|archive-date=4 May 2018|access-date=2018-05-03|website=The Parliamentary Review}}</ref>

Speaking live to GB News on 4 October 2022, Pickles stated that he had attended his 52nd consecutive Conservative Party Annual Conference that year.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

==Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government==
Pickles was appointed as [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]] as part of David Cameron's new coalition Government on 12 May 2010,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP|url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/profiles/corporate/ericpickles|work=communities.gov.uk|publisher=Department for Communities and Local Government|access-date=31 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108210822/http://www.communities.gov.uk/profiles/corporate/ericpickles|archive-date=8 November 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> and sworn as a [[Privy Counsellor]] on 13 May 2010.<ref name="pc-13may2010">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.privy-council.org.uk/files/other/13th%20May2010%20List.doc 
 |title=Privy Council appointments, 13 May 2010 
 |publisher=Privy Council 
 |access-date=26 July 2010 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611044054/http://www.privy-council.org.uk/files/other/13th%20May2010%20List.doc 
 |archive-date=11 June 2011 
 |df=dmy 
}}</ref>
[[File:Eric Pickles Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2011.JPG|thumb|Pickles delivers the keynote address at the Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2011 in Mayfair]]
In his role as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on 30 July 2010, Pickles announced plans to hand powers where ministers can cap what they deem to be unreasonable increases in council taxes to local people. A consultation began in August 2010 and the powers, which will require legislation, should be in force by March 2012.{{Update inline|date=August 2014}} Pickles said he was determined to reverse the presumption that Whitehall knows best by making local councils directly accountable to the local taxpayer. He said: "If councils want to increase council tax further, they will have to prove the case to the electorate. Let the people decide". Residents would be asked to choose between accepting the rise or rejecting it and instead accepting a below inflation rise, but with reduced council services. The average council tax on a Band D property increased from £688 a year in 1997/98 to £1,439 for 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hope |first=Christopher |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7917021/Local-people-to-get-powers-to-veto-excessive-council-tax-rises-Eric-Pickles-to-say-today.html |title=Local people to get powers to veto excessive council tax rises, Eric Pickles to say today |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 July 2010 |access-date=4 October 2010 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310105524/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/7917021/Local-people-to-get-powers-to-veto-excessive-council-tax-rises-Eric-Pickles-to-say-today.html |archive-date=10 March 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2010 Pickles unexpectedly announced the closure of the Audit Commission for England and Wales. The commission had overseen the appointment of independent external auditors for local authorities, and supported audit work to ensure value for money and the certification of Councils' financial accounts. Closure took until March 2015. Commentators questioned whether Whitehall would struggle to check whether council services and finances were about to fall over, particularly when money was channelled through public / private companies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=David |date=2015-02-25 |title=Eric Pickles was wrong: local government needs trained auditors |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2015/feb/25/eric-pickles-local-government-auditors-audit-commission |access-date=2023-07-19 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>  In the aftermath of a series of major financial crises at local authorities such as Woking Borough Council and Thurrock, identified from 2021, senior figures in local government finance identified the critical need to reinstate functions formerly discharged by the Audit Commission and for a strong system leader to oversee councils and local audit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIPFA: Woking fallout to 'have serious implications for the sector as a whole' {{!}} Public Finance |url=https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2023/05/cipfa-woking-fallout-have-serious-implications-sector-whole |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.publicfinance.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CIPFA: Thurrock report underlines risks of 'unique' investment strategies {{!}} Public Finance |url=https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2023/06/cipfa-thurrock-report-underlines-risks-unique-investment-strategies |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.publicfinance.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Central oversight of councils could provide early warnings of crisis, experts say {{!}} Public Finance |url=https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2023/07/central-oversight-councils-could-provide-early-warnings-crisis-experts-say?amp%3Butm_medium=email&amp%3B |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=www.publicfinance.co.uk}}</ref>

Pickles is a figure who does not shun controversy. In ''[[The Observer]]'', [[Will Hutton]] appraised his role with regard to local government as follows: "Local government minister Eric Pickles has colluded cheerfully with George Osborne to knock local government back to being no more than rat catchers and managers of street lighting. Indeed, they scarcely give them the funds to carry out these activities".<ref>{{cite news |first=Will |last=Hutton |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/01/birmingham-library-last-hurrah-civic-britain |title=Birmingham's last hurrah for local pride before civic Britain is culled |newspaper=The Observer |location=London |date=1 September 2013 |access-date=14 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418165606/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/01/birmingham-library-last-hurrah-civic-britain |archive-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2014, asked in Parliament if people who left their wheelie bins in the street after a collection should be punished, he said they should be [[Judicial corporal punishment|flogged]] -though he also said flogging was too good for them and that leaving the bin in the middle of the road was poor behaviour.<ref name=chris>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11297687/Flog-home-owners-who-leave-bins-in-road-says-Eric-Pickles.html |title='Flog' home owners who leave bins in road, says Eric Pickles |first=Christopher |last=Hope |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=17 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217003737/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/11297687/Flog-home-owners-who-leave-bins-in-road-says-Eric-Pickles.html |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[Rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal]] was unearthed during Pickles' tenure, and in February 2015 he announced a strategy to implement commissioners at [[Rotherham Council]] in the wake of the [[Casey Report]], which had been commissioned in 2014 to investigate child sex abuse in Rotherham. Seven councillors resigned as a result of the damning report, which revealed that the local authority was "wholly dysfunctional" and that the failure to protect 1,400 girls from sexual abuse was a result of "complacency, institutionalised political correctness" and "blatant failures of political and officer leadership".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/report-of-inspection-of-rotherham-metropolitan-borough-council|title=Report of inspection of Rotherham metropolitan borough council – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=5 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205000019/https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/report-of-inspection-of-rotherham-metropolitan-borough-council|archive-date=5 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Localism Act===
[[File:Eric Pickles, October 2009 3.jpg|thumb|left|Pickles in 2009]]
Pickles was responsible for the [[Localism Act 2011]] that changed the powers of [[local government in England]]. The measures affected by the Act include more [[directly elected mayors in England|elected mayors]] and [[referendum]]s. The Localism Act opens with Part 1, Chapter 1(1), under the heading "Local authority's general power of competence", [[everything which is not forbidden is allowed|"A local council has power to do anything that individuals generally may do"]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/1/enacted |title=Localism Act 2011 |first=Eric |last=Pickles |date=13 December 2010 |access-date=9 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625021436/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/section/1/enacted |archive-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The bill was introduced by Pickles, and given its [[first reading]] on 13 December 2010. The Bill completed the third reading in the House of Lords on 31 October 2011.<ref name=LB>{{cite web |url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localism.html |title=Localism Bill 2010–11 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216012024/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/localism.html |archive-date=16 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The bill received [[royal assent]] on 15 November 2011.

The bill was quickly undermined, however, after it was published on 13 December. One of the claims made for it is that it would "give local communities real control over housing and planning decisions", but on the same day, Pickles issued a decision in a planning appeal. The National Grid had applied to Tewkesbury Borough Council to build a gas plant just outside Tirley in [[Gloucestershire]]. The installation would occupy more than 16 acres and the application had been opposed by more than 1,000 residents in a sparsely populated rural area, by 12 parish councils and by every member of the planning committee of the local planning authority. Rejecting the local opposition, Pickles chose to grant permission to build the gas plant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planning-callins/pdf/1795566.pdf |title=Tirley PRI Secretaries of State decision letter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110106020824/http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planning-callins/pdf/1795566.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

In April 2014, [[South Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|South Norfolk MP]] [[Richard Bacon (politician)|Richard Bacon]] welcomed the decision that Pickles and the [[DCLG]] would have final say over the building of wind turbines.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/south_norfolk_mp_richard_bacon_welcomes_turbine_decision_1_3560162|title=South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon welcomes turbine decision|last=Bareham|first=Dominic|date=15 April 2014|work=[[Diss Mercury]]|access-date=15 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215233019/http://www.dissmercury.co.uk/news/south_norfolk_mp_richard_bacon_welcomes_turbine_decision_1_3560162|archive-date=15 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> By June 2014, Pickles had intervened on 12 windfarm projects and rejected 10 of them, against the recommendations from planning inspectors,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blueandgreentomorrow.com/2014/06/06/eric-pickles-rejects-10-out-of-12-wind-farm-applications/ |publisher=Blue and Green Tomorrow |title=Eric Pickles rejects 10 out of 12 wind farm applications |date=6 June 2014 |first=Charlotte |last=Malone |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009005307/http://blueandgreentomorrow.com/2014/06/06/eric-pickles-rejects-10-out-of-12-wind-farm-applications/ |archive-date=9 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> rising to 50 rejections by October 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/28/war-on-windfarms-tories-latest-sop-to-ukip |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London |title=This war on windfarms is the Tories' latest sop to Ukip |first=Polly |last=Toynbee |date=28 October 2014 |access-date=28 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028155431/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/28/war-on-windfarms-tories-latest-sop-to-ukip |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Council prayers===
On 10 February 2012, the [[National Secular Society]] obtained a [[High Court of Justice|High Court]] judicial review of [[Christian prayer]]s held as part of formal [[Local government in the United Kingdom|local council]] meetings, which councillors disagreeing with the practice had to attend if not wishing to walk out discourteously.
Mr Justice Ouseley ruled: "The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a Council is not lawful under s. 111 of the [[Local Government Act 1972]], and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue. I do not think the 1972 Act should be interpreted as permitting the religious views of one group of councillors, however sincere or large in number, to exclude, or even to a modest extent, to impose burdens on or even to mark out those who do not share their views and do not wish to participate in their expression of them. They are all equally elected councillors".<ref>{{cite web|title=High Court Ruling on Council Prayers|url=http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/council-prayers-unlawful-rules-high-court|publisher=National Secular Society|access-date=20 February 2012|date=10 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214150530/http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/council-prayers-unlawful-rules-high-court|archive-date=14 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Prayers were permitted to be held before the start of the formal agenda.

Eric Pickles vowed to reverse the High Court decision, despite a [[YouGov]] poll which found that 55% of people were against councils holding prayers, and 26% in favour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yougov poll on Council Prayers|url=http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/poll-shows-majority-think-councils-shouldnt-pray|publisher=National Secular Society|access-date=20 February 2012|date=19 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222225020/http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/poll-shows-majority-think-councils-shouldnt-pray|archive-date=22 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Eric Pickles brought forward his [[Localism Act]], due to become law in April 2012, and made it law on 17 February 2012, saying that he was 'effectively reversing' the High Court decision.<ref>{{cite news |title= Councils win prayer 'rights' as Localism Act powers fast tracked, ministers say |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082136 |work= BBC News |access-date= 20 February 2012 |date= 18 February 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219013431/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17082136 |archive-date= 19 February 2012 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Keith Porteous Wood, executive director of the National Secular Society, commented "A number of senior lawyers have expressed doubt whether the Localism Act will, as Mr Pickles hopes, make prayers lawful, and the Act was clearly not passed with that express intention. His powers to pass legislation are not, as he implies, untrammelled. Council prayers increasingly look set to become a battle between the Government and the courts at ever higher levels".<ref>{{cite web|title=Keith Porteous Wood|url=http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/council-prayers--doubts-over-eric-pickles-general-power-of-competence|publisher=National Secular Society|access-date=20 February 2012|date=18 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221010636/http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2012/02/council-prayers--doubts-over-eric-pickles-general-power-of-competence|archive-date=21 February 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The Localism Act states that "a local authority has power to do anything that individuals generally may do". Eric Pickles wrote to faith leaders, local authority leaders, and the Society of Local Council Clerks, and telling parish councils "Once the power is in place, eligible parish councils will be able to include prayers as part of their formal business".<ref>{{cite web|title=Freedom to pray: links to advice to parish councils, and letters to leaders and clerks|url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/prayeradvice|publisher= Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government|date=20 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405114744/http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/prayeradvice|archive-date=5 April 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2013, referring to the issue of prayers in council meetings, Pickles said in a speech at the Conservative Spring Forum that "militant atheists" should accept that Britain is a Christian country.<ref>{{cite web | last=Dominiczak|first=Peter| title=Militant atheists should 'get over it' and accept UK is Christian | website=The Telegraph | date=6 April 2014| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10747980/Militant-atheists-should-get-over-it-and-accept-UK-is-Christian.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011115554/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/10747980/Militant-atheists-should-get-over-it-and-accept-UK-is-Christian.html |archive-date=11 October 2018}}</ref> In 2015 the [[Local Government (Religious Observances) Act]], which was welcomed by Pickles, authorised councils to hold prayers at the start of sessions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eric Pickles welcomes council prayers law |author=Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government and Eric Pickles| date=27 March 2015 | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/eric-pickles-welcomes-council-prayers-law}}</ref>

===Troubled Families===
Pickles led the [[Troubled Families]] Programme designed to turn around 120,000&nbsp;dysfunctional families, at a cost of around £400&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37010486|title=Troubled Families report 'suppressed'|date=8 August 2016|first=Chris|last=Cook|website=BBC News|access-date=12 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811193655/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37010486|archive-date=11 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> According to David Cameron, these families were responsible for 'a large proportion of the problems in society'. The families were selected for having 5 of 7 measures of social and economic deprivation. Pickles claimed repeatedly that these families cost the state £9&nbsp;billion per annum. In March 2015 Pickles declared the programme a 'triumph' in the House of Commons after it allegedly 'turned around' 105,600&nbsp;families of 117,910&nbsp;processed and saved £1.2&nbsp;billion per annum. £1.2 billion per annum was a hypothetical number based on assumptions that alleged improvements in behaviour would be sustained and depended on removing the high costs associated with disabled children and chronically sick, unemployed adults.<ref>Troubled Families, Green Man Books, 2015.{{ISBN|978-1514170588}}</ref>

The Evaluation by the [[National Institute for Economic and Social Research]] was published on 17 October 2016.  The report found that there had been "no significant impact" of the scheme.<ref name="niesr.ac.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.niesr.ac.uk/publications/national-evaluation-troubled-families-programme-final-synthesis-report|title=National Evaluation of the Troubled Families Programme – Final Synthesis Report|date=2016-10-17|last1=Portes|first1= J.|last2= Bewley|first2= H.}}</ref> A press release from NIESR stated, "we were unable to find consistent evidence that the programme had any significant or systematic impact".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.niesr.ac.uk/media/niesr-press-release-%E2%80%93-no-evidence-troubled-families-programme-had-any-significant-impact-key|title=NIESR Press Release – No evidence Troubled Families Programme had any significant impact on key objectives, NIESR evaluation finds|date=17 October 2016|website=National Institute of Economic and Social Research}}</ref> The Times reported the following day, "the report was published quietly last night after complaints from Whitehall insiders that it was being suppressed".<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title= Cameron 'wasted £1bn on troubled families'|author=Oliver Wright and Michael Savage |date=17 October 2016|pages=1–2}}</ref>

The [[Public Accounts Committee]] published its report on 19 December 2016.  They concluded that the delay in publication had been unacceptable, that DCLG had failed to demonstrate that the programme had any significant impact and that the terminology of saying that the families had been "turned around" was misleading given that many of the families had continuing problems after a result had been claimed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmpubacc/711/71102.htm|title=House of Commons – Troubled families: progress review – Committee of Public Accounts|website=publications.parliament.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/dec/20/troubled-families-government-misled-public-99-success-claim-say-mps?CMP=share_btn_link|date=19 December 2016|access-date=21 December 2016|title=Government misled public with 99% success rate claim on troubled families, say MPs|newspaper=The Guardian|location=UK}}</ref>  The PAC chairwoman, [[Meg Hillier]], commented that the report was "far more serious" than "a slap on the wrist" for ministers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38369557?ocid=socialflow_twitter&ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbcnews&ns_source=twitter|date=20 December 2016|access-date=21 December 2016|title=Troubled families turnaround claim misleading, say MPs|newspaper=BBC News|location=UK}}</ref>

===Flooding of the Somerset Levels===

From December 2013 onwards the [[Somerset Levels]] suffered severe flooding as part of the wider [[2013-2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe]] and subsequent [[2013–2014 United Kingdom winter floods]].

There were public calls for the rivers Parrett and Tone, in particular, to be dredged. The Environment Agency was blamed for not having dredged the major river channels of the Levels. The Environment Agency and others pointed out that it would be more effective to spend money on delaying floodwaters upstream, and that increasing the capacity of rivers by [[dredging]] would be of no significant use; the Environment Secretary defended the Agency.<ref>{{cite news|title = UK floods: Cameron gives lukewarm backing to Environment Agency boss|url = https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/10/david-cameron-environment-agency-lord-smith|access-date = 10 February 2014|newspaper = The Guardian|date = 10 February 2014|first1= Rowena|last1= Mason|first2 = Patrick |last2=Wintour}}</ref> Roger Falconer, Professor of Water Management at Cardiff University, and other hydrologists made clear that dredging did not offer a useful solution to flooding on the Somerset Levels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencemediacentre.org/expert-reaction-to-somerset-flooding/|title=expert reaction to Somerset flooding &#124; Science Media Centre}}</ref>

On 7 February, the Environment Secretary needed an urgent operation and handed over the flood management to Eric Pickles.<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|title=MP Owen Paterson to have urgent operation on detached retina|url-status=live|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26057456|access-date=11 February 2014|date=6 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206005043/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26057456|archive-date=6 February 2014}}</ref> Pickles then appeared on ''[[The Andrew Marr Show]]'' and apologised "unreservedly" for not dredging the Somerset Levels and said that "the government may have relied too much on the advice" of the Environment Agency.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK floods: Government 'made a mistake' by not dredging|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26106290|access-date=9 February 2014|newspaper=BBC News|publisher=BBC|date=9 February 2014}}</ref> The head of the Environment Agency [[Chris Smith, Baron Smith of Finsbury|Lord Chris Smith]] rejected the criticism of his organisation.<ref name="autogenerated1970">{{cite news|last=Carrington|first=Damien|title=Ministers playing politics with floods, says Environment Agency chief|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/feb/09/floods-environment-agency-chris-smith-hits-back|access-date=11 February 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=9 February 2014}}</ref> The Environment Secretary protested in the strongest possible terms to the Prime Minister about Pickles'  "grandstanding".<ref>{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Nigel|title=UK weather: Eric Pickles and Owen Paterson clash over the performance of the Environment Agency|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/uk-weather-eric-pickles-and-owen-paterson-clash-over-the-performance-of-the-environment-agency-9119329.html|access-date=11 February 2014|newspaper=The Independent|date=10 February 2014}}</ref>

==Controversies==
===Second home===
On 26 March 2009, Pickles appeared on the political debate programme ''[[Question Time (TV series)|Question Time]]'' in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]]. While discussing the controversy over [[Tony McNulty]] (who had recently admitted claiming expenses on a second home, occupied by his parents, only 8 miles away from his primary residence), Pickles admitted he claimed a second home allowance because he lived 37 miles from [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster]] and needed to leave his constituency house in Brentwood at 5.30&nbsp;am to get to Westminster for 9.30&nbsp;am,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/question_time/7967561.stm |title=MP: Long hours justify second home claim BBC 26 March 2009 |work=BBC News |date=27 March 2009 |access-date=4 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090330023147/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/question_time/7967561.stm |archive-date=30 March 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Iain |url=http://blogs.uat.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin/9307837/Tories_should_put_Eric_Pickles_under_house_arrest/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120708031527/http://blogs.uat.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin/9307837/Tories_should_put_Eric_Pickles_under_house_arrest/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 July 2012 |title=Tories should put Eric Pickles under house arrest |work=Daily Telegraph |date=27 March 2009 |access-date=4 October 2010 |location=London }}</ref> given that he tended to get home at midnight or 1&nbsp;am, although the standard time for commuters from this region is usually ninety minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juryteam.org/blog/?p=219 |title=Eric Pickles on Question Time – 1:35 on the video, 21 March 2009 |publisher=Juryteam.org |date=21 March 2009 |access-date=4 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414152137/http://www.juryteam.org/blog/?p=219 |archive-date=14 April 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref> He went on to say that it was "no fun" commuting into London from where he lived. In response to Pickles's comments that he "had to be there [the House of Commons] on time", ''Question Time'' host [[David Dimbleby]], replied "Like a job, in other words?" and fellow panellist [[Caroline Lucas]] added 'welcome to the real world', both of which prompted amusement and applause amongst the audience.

[[File:Grenfell Tower fire (wider view) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|During his tenure as Housing Secretary, Pickles permitted [[Grenfell Tower]] in London to be clad using combustable cladding, something he was heavily criticised for during the [[Grenfell Tower Inquiry|subsequent enquiry]] following [[Grenfell Tower fire|a fire at the tower]] in June 2017. His conduct during the enquiry was also criticised, with Pickles urging the enquiry not to "waste my time" and "use time wisely", as well as getting the number of deaths wrong]] 

Pickles was asked to pay back £300 following the MP's expenses scandal, which he had claimed for cleaning.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/16/mps-expenses-list-who-owes | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=MPs' expenses: Who is in the clear, and who owes what | first=Allegra | last=Stratton | date=16 October 2009 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011121059/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/16/mps-expenses-list-who-owes | archive-date=11 October 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Grenfell Tower Inquiry controversy ===
The [[Grenfell Tower fire]], which killed 72 people and destroyed [[Grenfell Tower]] in [[North Kensington]], London, happened on 14 June 2017 when Pickles was no longer the minister responsible for housing, but the tower's renovation using flammable cladding was designed and agreed while he was housing minister.

On 7 April 2022, Pickles was giving evidence to the [[Grenfell Tower Inquiry]] based on his experience as [[Secretary of State for Housing]] from 2010 to 2015. He went on to challenge the inquiry not to waste his time while giving evidence,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Eric Pickles asks Grenfell inquiry not to waste his time but gets death toll wrong |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/apr/07/eric-pickles-asks-grenfell-inquiry-not-to-waste-his-time-but-gets-death-toll-wrong}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title='Extremely busy' ex-Tory minister Eric Pickles tells Grenfell Inquiry not to waste his time |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/grenfell-inquiry-eric-pickles-busy-b2052945.html}}</ref> before getting the death toll from the disaster wrong.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Grenfell inquiry: 'Busy' Lord Pickles apologises for his impatience |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/grenfell-inquiry-busy-lord-pickles-apologises-for-his-impatience-7x92fzczc}}</ref> He later apologised, claiming he "misspoke".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Grenfell Tower inquiry: Lord Pickles apologises for death toll error |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61064965}}</ref>

The [[Grenfell Tower Inquiry]] final report, published on 4 September 2024, was critical of Pickles and his government department for failing to act on a 2013 coroner recommendation to improve cladding fire safety regulations and for his enthusiastic support of a programme to slash regulations which dominated department thinking. This led to calls for him to resign from the [[House of Lords]] and as a government ethics adviser.<ref name=guardian-20240906>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/06/eric-pickles-urged-to-quit-as-tory-peer-over-grenfell-inquiry-criticism |title=Eric Pickles urged to quit as Tory peer over Grenfell inquiry criticism |last=Mason |first=Rowena |newspaper=The Guardian |date=6 September 2024 |access-date=6 September 2024}}</ref><ref name=yp-20240904>{{cite news |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/grenfell-tower-fire-lord-eric-pickles-4768705 |title=Grenfell Tower fire: Lord Eric Pickles oversaw government's 'deregulatory agenda' – what did inquiry say about him? |last=Blackburn |first=Ralph |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |date=4 September 2024 |access-date=6 September 2024}}</ref> 

'''Palestine''' 

On 31 July 2025, he was a signatory of a letter from 38 House of Lords members opposing the UK's plan to recognise a State of Palestine: the peers said Palestine “does not meet the international law criteria for recognition of a state, namely, defined territory, a permanent population, an effective government and the capacity to enter into relations with other states”.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-31 |title=Minister denies Starmer’s promise to recognise Palestine may breach international law |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/palestine-state-recognition-starmer-international-law-b2799400.html |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Pickles married Irene Coates in 1976 in [[Staincliffe]], a district of Batley in West Yorkshire.

==Honours==
* Eric Pickles was sworn in as a member of [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council]] in 2010. This gave him the [[Style (form of address)|Honorific Prefix]] "[[The Right Honourable]]" and after [[Ennoblement]] the [[List of post-nominal letters (United Kingdom)|Post Nominal Letters]] "PC" for Life.
* On 22 May 2015 it was announced that Pickles was to be appointed a [[Knight Bachelor]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/22/eric-pickles-knighthood-former-cabinet-minister |title= Eric Pickles to receive a knighthood |work= The Guardian |location= London |date= 22 May 2015 |access-date= 26 May 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150526161710/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/22/eric-pickles-knighthood-former-cabinet-minister |archive-date= 26 May 2015 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Knighthood conferred on Eric Pickles  |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/knighthood-conferred-on-eric-pickles |website=Government of the United Kingdom |access-date=12 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
* He was nominated for a [[Life Peerage]] by [[Theresa May]] on 18 May 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/18/may-names-nine-new-tory-peers-to-boost-party-after-brexit-defeats|title=May names nine new Tory peers to bolster party after Brexit defeats|first1=Dan|last1=Sabbagh|first2=Anne|last2=Perkins|date=18 May 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520040645/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/may/18/may-names-nine-new-tory-peers-to-boost-party-after-brexit-defeats|archive-date=20 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On 18 June 2018 he was created '''Baron Pickles''', of [[Brentwood, Essex|Brentwood]] and [[Ongar, Essex|Ongar]] in the [[County of Essex]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=62331 |date=22 June 2018 |page=11112}}</ref> He sits on the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] benches in the [[House of Lords]].

{{Incomplete list|date=January 2022}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book |last=Grogan |first=Tony |title=The Pickles Papers |location=Bradford |publisher=1 in 12 Publications |year=1989 |isbn=0-948994-04-5 }} [http://www.1in12.com/publications/archive/thepicklespapers/picklesintro.html (free electronic edition, October 1996)].

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Eric Pickles}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111002100840/http://www.ericpickles.com/ Eric Pickles MP] ''official constituency website''
* [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10477/eric_pickles/brentwood_and_ongar Eric Pickles] parliamentary activity from [[TheyWorkForYou]]
* {{UK MP links | parliament = eric-pickles/33 | hansard = mr-eric-pickles | hansardcurr = 42 | guardian = 4174/eric-pickles | publicwhip = Eric_Pickles | theywork = eric_pickles | record = Eric-Pickles/Brentwood-and-Ongar/413 | bbc = 25404.stm | journalisted = eric-pickles }}
* [https://www.theguardian.com/profile/eric-pickles?INTCMP=SRCH Contributor page] at ''The Guardian''
* {{Cite book |last=Grogan |first=Tony |title=The Pickles Papers |location=Bradford |publisher=1 in 12 Publications |year=1989 |isbn=0-948994-04-5 }} [http://www.1in12.com/publications/archive/thepicklespapers/picklesintro.html (free electronic edition, October 1996)].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20111106051058/http://www.publicservice.co.uk/mp/eric-pickles ''Eric Pickles news''] at publicservice.co.uk
* {{YouTube|qJTxqh-s9so|Video: "Eric Pickles' War Room Briefing: The challenge facing us at the next election"}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert McCrindle]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Brentwood and Ongar]]|years=[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]–[[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Alex Burghart]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Theresa May]]|as=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Transport]], Local Government and the Regions}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government|Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and the Regions]]|years=2002}}
{{s-aft|after=[[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]]|as=Shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]]|as=Shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government|Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government]]|years=2003–2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Caroline Spelman]]|as=Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government Affairs and Communities}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Caroline Spelman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]]|years=2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Caroline Spelman]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[John Denham (politician)|John Denham]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]]|years=2010–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Greg Clark]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[The Baroness Warsi]]|as=Minister of State for Faith and Communities}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Department for Communities and Local Government|Minister of State for Faith]]|years=2014–2015}}
{{s-non|reason=Position abolished}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Andrew Burns|Andrew Burns]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[United Kingdom Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues]]|years=2015–}}
{{s-non|reason=Incumbent}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Kenneth Clarke]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[Cabinet Office|United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Champion]]|years=2015–}}
{{s-non|reason=Incumbent}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Caroline Spelman]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]|years=2009–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Andrew Feldman, Baron Feldman of Elstree|The Lord Feldman of Elstree]]<br>[[The Baroness Warsi]]}}
{{s-prec|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Andrew Tyrie|The Lord Tyrie]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Pickles'' '''}}
{{s-fol|after=[[The Lord Lilley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Conservative Party (UK)}}
{{Secretary of State for Communities}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pickles, Eric}}
[[Category:1952 births]]
[[Category:Borough of Brentwood]]
[[Category:Chairmen of the Conservative Party (UK)]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers]]
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]]
[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Councillors in Bradford]]
[[Category:Former Marxists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Alumni of Leeds Beckett University]]
[[Category:People from Keighley]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–2005]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–2017]]