Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months

It’s fast becoming a week to forget for Eric Pickles. Following his embarrassing error over council bosses’ pay on the Today programme on Wednesday, it emerged today that the communities secretary has only made one ministerial visit in the last six months – and has not made a single visit to the North East, South East, East of England or a London borough since his appointment.

Eric-Pickles His six visits in his 40 weeks as Secretary of State have been to:

• The royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council area, on 7 June 2010;

• The city of Bradford metropolitan district council area, on 29 June 2010;

• The Bournemouth borough council area, from 6 to 8 July 2010;

• The Liverpool city council area, on 19 July 2010;

• The Southampton city council area, on 28 July 2010; and

• The Birmingham city council area, on 20 January 2011.

While Minister of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) Greg Clark, the Minister for Decentralisation, has only ever made four ministerial visits – and none since last July:

• The London borough of Wandsworth area on 25 June 2010;

• The Liverpool city council area, on 19 July 2010;

• The Bristol city council area, on 26 July 2010; and

• The Bradford city council area, on 29 July 2010.

The facts were revealed in a Parliamentary Written Answer from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Bob Neil in response to a Parliamentary Written Question from shadow local government secretary Caroline Flint, and also show that not one single member of the six-strong DCLG ministerial team has made an official visit to the North East.

http://twitter.com/philcane/status/38627159207710720 Philip Cane

RT @leftfootfwd: Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J reports @ShamikDas
Political Animal

RT @leftfootfwd Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J <Problem is, there's councillors everywhere.
http://twitter.com/politic_animal/status/38627296608780288 politic animal

RT @leftfootfwd Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J <Problem is, there's councillors everywhere.
http://twitter.com/hjlownsbrough/status/38628122396082176 hjlownsbrough

RT @leftfootfwd: Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J reports @ShamikDas
http://twitter.com/wdjstraw/status/38636679237476352 Will Straw

Are you a cllr who's invited Eric Pickles to your area? Dont hold your breath, he's only made 1 visit in 6 months: http://bit.ly/h8W04g
http://www.order-order.com Harry Cole

Too busy hard at work dismantling the mess. He’s had a great week. have you not see the daily press coverage of waste waste waste and pay. where do you think that is coming from? The magical story tree?
http://twitter.com/bruthamyles/status/38638526694166528 Myles Winstone

None of the six-strong DCLG ministerial team has made an official visit to the North East. http://j.mp/fn63vx
http://www.shamik.co.uk Shamik Das

A great week indeed…
http://twitter.com/cllrmcarr/status/38643546747568129 Michael Carr

Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months – http://bit.ly/iawECi – & NO local govt minister has visited the NE
http://twitter.com/martincoward/status/38648153083346944 Martin Coward

RT @leftfootfwd: no one in Communities & Local Government ministerial team has made official visit to North East: http://bit.ly/iawECi
JoshC

It’s easier to ignore what miniscule conscience he may have if he doesn’t have to look the little people in the face.
http://twitter.com/brokenofbritain/status/38663883828903936 Broken OfBritain

RT @leftfootfwd: Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J reports @ShamikDas
PJ

Melt the fat bastard down and use him for candles – at least he’d be some use then.
Mr. Sensible

“week to forget?” I think you’re being a bit kind there, Shamik.

Fortnight I’d have thought; remember that letter to the Times from those 91 Lib Dems?
http://www.stephenwigmore.blogspot.com Stephen W

“It’s fast becoming a week to forget for Eric Pickles. Following his embarrassing error over council bosses’ pay on the Today programme on Wendesday”

And which day is Wendesday? Is it between Tuseday and Thusrday
http://www.shamik.co.uk Shamik Das

Thanks Stephen! Fixed.
http://twitter.com/kingmike01/status/39029242650034176 Mike King

Living proof that they dare not let Porky Pig Pickles out… Must be for his own safety, surely? http://ht.ly/3ZEXP
http://twitter.com/cherrytoms/status/39277375657222145 Joshrob

“@leftfootfwd: Pickles has made only ONE ministerial visit in SIX months: http://bit.ly/gRp12J reports @ShamikDas” Talk about 'non-job'!
Maureen Czarnecki

Surprised that Greg Clark hasn’t been home to visit his old friends and schoolmates in South Bank, Middlesbrough.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/02/tory-council-chiefs-attack-eric-pickles/ Now even Tory council chiefs have a go at Pickles | Left Foot Forward

[...] week, Left Foot Forward reported that the communities secretary had made only one ministerial visit in six months and had not made a [...]