Dan Peters 22 May 2015

Pickles to be given knighthood

The communities secretary for the duration of the last parliament, Eric Pickles, is to be given a knighthood, Downing Street has announced.

Conservative Pickles will be made a Knight Bachelor in recognition of his public service as a MP, former Cabinet minister and time in local government, No 10 said.

Pickles, who was first elected to Parliament in 1992, lost his frontbench role to Greg Clark after the general election.

He said: ‘I’m obviously very pleased with the honour and am looking forward to my day at the palace.’

Pickles started out in local politics in Bradford in 1979, becoming leader nine years later, and was also Tory party chairman.

Earlier this month he retained his seat of Brentwood and Ongar, securing 59% of the votes cast.

#DCLG #Eric Pickles

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