Put your questions to Eric Pickles

Ed B

Eric, any chance of losing 4 stone and going for media training? There is an election coming and what with you being Chairman and all...

Mike, Brighton

What do MPs need to do to win back the respect of the public lost through the utterly indefensible expenses claimed by many MPs including sadly yourself?

Wilhelm

Mr Pickle

Why doesnt the political establishment and the Islangton cocktail party set be honest and truthful for once and admit that the whole multicultural experiment for the last 40 years has been one hell of a disaster for this country ? and we can see the consequences of this by the creeping drip, drip, drip of the islamafication and Sharia law into this country by the useful liberal idiots as Stalin called them

And Eric I think Im entitled to an answer, dont you ?

Tom

1. What do you think the value of your second home is today as compared to what it was when you bought it.
2. What's wrong with a hotel?

Hugh

How would a Conservative government reform the expenses system?

Hugh

Do the Conservatives still believe the NHS is best funded solely through taxation and that treatment should be free?

Cottage Pie

If you were marooned on a desert island with Gordon Brown would you:
a)Analyse with your new friend the potential of applying the endogenous growth theory to your predicament.

b)Ask Gordon to help you make a fishing rod and then go fishing together.

c)Make your own rod, go fishing and then share the fish with Gordon

d)Rely on Gordon to build a rod, catch some fish and expect him to share the fish with you.

e) Ignore Gordon, go to the other side of the island and fend for yourself.

Graeme

Mr Pickles,

Do you accept that the Parliamentary allowances system has simply been tantamount to a legalized looting of the taxpayer and that once in power your party will do nothing to reform it?

DM

Do you NOW understand why so many of the Question Time audience reacted as they did to you?

Do you now realise that other people in other professions/jobs HAVE to commute the distance that you think requires an expenses paid second home?

Nicholas

Mr Pickles

What exactly, if anything, will a Conservative government do to reverse and rectify the increasingly intrusive powers of the state and the erosion by the New Labour hegemony of the traditional freedoms, protections and privacy once enjoyed by all the English people? The answer to this question will be paramount to my voting intentions.

The Huntsman

Bearing in mind that elections to the EU Parliament take place in 8 weeks time, when may we expect the Conservative party to explain to the electorate what, precisely, is meant in relation to the EU Constitution (promulgated by the Treaty Of Lisbon) by the promise "We won't leave matters there" ?

Silent Hunter

The last time I did this I apparently (seems to be the word of the moment) won a Spectator T shirt - I'm still waiting for it. LOL

My question would have to be -

Are you planning on going on Question Time again?

Mark

Would you really scrap RDAs? You're a bit noncommittal about this issue on occasion. What's the definitive answer?

John Ward

Question:

Those of us who know you or know of you are well aware of your personal integrity and your determination. However, you are not one of the best in the media, and were quite easily trapped on Question Time recently.

What can you do to make sure that party members and supporters need have no fear of your appearing in such places again in the future?

Alex

I get public transport into work, and if I have a really important meeting to go, I get the earlier train. What makes you so special?

Now the Commons are no longer sitting late, will you sell your second home? And why did you think it appropriate to buy rather than rent a second homes? It is not as if there is any saving to the taxpayer.

Do you think we should introduce a retrospective tax on gains accrured on homes MPs have ever claimed second home allowances on?

If you lost your seat at the next election, do you think you should return all the fixtures, fittings and furnishing you purhcased with the additioanl cost allowance; given you won't be needing them to help you represent your constitutents?

What is wrong with MPs earning £65,000 a year? Why do MPs think they are worth so much more?

Why should MPs get gold plated defined benefit pensions? We in the private sector (i.e the people at produce the wealth who pay for your gold plated pension scheme) don't.

Do you agreee that your defence of the expenses system has destroyed you image as a "down to earth" normal person?

What are the five positive reasons I should vote conservative?

Edna O'Brady (Mrs)

What's your favourite pickle? And who's your favourite Eric?

Tom

Do you think that companies that expect their staff to be on time for 8.30am meetings should pay for a second home for any member of staff who lives a 45 minute commute from work?

Ray

Mr Pickles.

Many Conservatives rightly believe that the EU has been a disaster for Britain, and now constitutes the biggest single threat to our continued sovereignty and liberty. Furthermore, 'reforming' the EU is futile because its whole 'raison d'etre' is the creation of a meddling superstate in which its constituent states will become mere provinces.

Isn't it now time for the Conservative Party to step forward and offer itself as the only major party that will extract us from the EU? Or is Prime Minister Cameron going to end up being chewed up and spat out by it in the same manner that Prime Ministers Mayor and Thatcher were?

C Powell

I very strongly second Nicholas's question. It will be paramount in determining my voting intentions too and I think it's about time the Tories were made to think hard about this issue and say something meaningful on it.

Verity

Mr Pickles, I followed your conversation with Iain Dale and various bloggers on instant messenger that time, and you gained a fan, but surely you are aware of the contempt in which all politicians, through their own agency, are held? There is no difference between greedy, self-serving Labour MPs and greedy, self-serving Conservative MPs. What steps would you urge a Conservative Government to take to clean up the contemptible sleaze that is British politics today and regain respect for the HoC. (Incidentally, I believe there will be no regaining of respect for the HoL until the lifers are ejected and the hereditaries are returned.)

The Masked Marvel

It's no secret that many members of the voting public are leaning towards a third party (the BNP) for the first time in their lives simply out of feelings that the Government and the media have spent far too much time promoting immigrant cultures at the expense of native Britons. For example, British citizens must currently leave the country in order to view a film not because it breaks any laws, but simply because there is a presumption of anger about it from - not violence against - a minority immigrant culture. Most of these people newly considering a third party do so because Social Cohesion programmes and laws reach across the aisle in only one direction, insulting their intelligence and making them feel as if they are not welcome in their own country. Do the Conservatives intend to do anything about the continuing alienation of so many British people from their own country and their own government? Are you even able to acknowledge the problem?

Verity

The Masked Marvel - Well said!

Tom Pride

Nanny is fussing again. We seem to eat too much. Will you go hand to hand combat with The Blubbery Old Toad, The Pasty Porker? The first to lose 1 stone wins and the loser takes a 20% pay cut? (That’s 6.36 kilos for the BBC)

And then how about an Irish style 10% pay cut for Government Ministers and MPs? Will you use the Opposition’s next debate to impose this cut and eliminate the bogus expense claims culture?

Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells

PS - Mr Pickles, will you kindly use your good offices to get Silent Hunter his Speccie T-shirt which he won fair and square on a previous "Put Your Questions" thread? Is the Speccie management aware that they are bringing Conservative magazine publishing into disrepute? Were Silent Hunter an MP, would he have received his free T-shirt by now?

Wilhelm

Mr Pickle

Who would Jesus vote for at the general election ?

1. The Labour party ( bringing in Sharia Law )
2. The Tories ( more dhimmitude, its the elephant in the room, dont mention it, hoping it will go away, pronto )
3. The Liberals ( the Caliphate of England, here
we come )
4. UKIP or the BNP

Pete Hoskin

Slient Hunter: send your address details to phoskin @ spectator.co.uk and I'll get one sent to you.

Kevyn Bodman

Some good and serious questions.
I particularly welcome Nicholas and C.Powell keeping the civil liberties theme prominent.
Also Ray on the EU and The Masked Marvel on pandering to minorities.

I would like to ask about the major story of today,which will still be important long after next week;

What will the Conservatives do to reform the role and behaviour of the police?

Verity

Kevyn Bodman - The Tories should not need prompting by Kevyn Bodman. They should have been right on this, announcing plans for elected police chiefs.

Verity

I meant to write "by Kevyn Bodman or anyone else". Sorry, Kevyn.

Alex R

Pete - am with Silent Hunter. You used my question with Gieve.

George Laird

Dear Mr. Pickles

Now that you realise that 37 miles doesn't have to take 4 hours will you be giving up your claiming for a second home allowance?

If not, why not?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

George Laird

Dear Mr. Pickles

Now that you realise that 37 miles doesn't have to take 4 hours will you be giving up your claiming for a second home allowance?

If not, why not?

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University

Pete Hoskin

Alex R: apologies. Again, just fire me an email (phoskin @ spectator.co.uk) and I'll get on esent out to you.

G Lees

What is your view of MEPs writting and commenting on blogs?

Hysteria

Many good posts - but surprisingly to me nothing about Dan Hannan - so ..............

Given the clarity of thought and quality of delivery by Dan in the European Parliament, which clearly struck a massive chord, despite being largley ignored by the MSM, and further evidenced by his repeated appearances on the US media, what steps will the Conservative Party take to bring Mr Hannan into the mainstream party, and implement his (and Mr Carswells's) ideas as spelt out in their book "The Plan"?

lawrence greek

Eric - George Osborne made a very intelligent and insightful speech on the future of the financial sector today to the RSA, proving that not only do the Conservatives have a plan for the economy, they have also thought long and hard about what is required - much more so than Gordon Brown. How can the Conservative party get this message across better to the wider electorate and, more specifically, why do Cameron and Osborne allow themselves to be patronised by Brown and Labour when beneath the surface they clearly have a much better grasp of both markets and the causes of the current crisis?

teledu

The English need a champion (not the British, the English). Why should they vote Conservative?

Tony Gee

Do you think political parties are anti democratic, given the three largest run the country with less than 500,000 members? If no, why are there parliamentary whips and why do you all ignore the will of the majority on matters such as EU referendum, immigration, law and order, political correctness, state waste and expense.

Verity

Tony, I don't know about Eric, but I will take issue with your question. The three largest parties run the country with fewer than 500,000 members.

How is that anti-democratic? Who is keeping out other people from joining. Are people being excluded? Are there strict memberships requirements? Or do you just pony up your membership fee and join if you feel like it?

Tina

Why do the Conservatives not realise that their idea for elected police chiefs will hand power to extremists in catchment areas where they have a strong area over the electorate?

Phil

What advice would you give to someone who was invited onto the panel for Question Time?

Barry

Will the British electorate be given a referendum on the EU constitution ( Lisbon Treaty )
or will you just lay down and accept the fait accompli if the Irish vote yes next time.

Nigel Bradshaw

I know the Conservative Party have been closely following the innovative approach to education in Sweden. I hope you are also following the similar, but perhaps less well known, approach to health provision in areas where the Swedish Moderate Party is in power

Steve.W

Dear Eric,
Today in the New Statesman Denis McShane is enjoying himself, see here -
http://www.newstatesman.com/uk-politics/2009/04/ken-clarke-europe-hague-tories

As you can see McShane has mentioned William Hague, Ken Clarke and the Lisbon Treaty. And done so in such a way that warrants clarification from you as Chairman of your party.

Thank you – Steve.W

john miller

Dear Mr Pickles,

The Right Hon G Brown has just now removed his only weapon against the Tories from his armoury. Do you think it is time for Mr Cameron to take charge of the political narrative tomorrow and create further dividing lines between Labour and Conservative policy on subjects such as the economy and education, rather than trail the current headlines?

Fred

If elected, will the electorate be given a referendum on staying in or getting out of the EU?

Will Stobart

Mr Pickles, do you have any plans to make local associations in all constituencies actively recruit members or activists?

If not, what is your preferred method of increasing recruitment?

Grytpype-thynne

Dear Mr Pickles,
If elected, will your government outlaw the empolyment of "special advisers" on the public payroll?

David Ossitt

Dear Mr Pickles.

What chance is there of your party undoing all of the damage inflicted on England by new labour.