Eric Pickles visits Hamble in Tory campaign for Eastleigh by-election

1:30pm Monday 11th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Patrick Knox, Senior Reporter

Eric Pickles campaigns for Tories in Eastleigh Eric Pickles campaigns for Tories in Eastleigh

POLITICAL heavyweight Eric Pickles went walkabout in Hampshire today backing the Tory candidate in the Eastleigh by-election.

The Communities Secretary was out canvassing with Maria Hutchings in the yachting village of Hamble.

Mr Pickles said: “Maria is not out of central casting. She’s her own woman and she will be a great asset to the Eastleigh constituency and will be a Member of Parliament who the community can trust.”

“It’s really important I think to give David Cameron some additional support in the House of Commons.”

 

 

Mr Pickles said despite cuts the Conservatives had delivered on key policies.

He said: “We have delivered a deal on Europe that people thought was impossible. We have tackled the benefit culture that people thought was impossible. And we have introduced a system whereby the green belt can be protected.

“The issues I’ve come across this morning is obviously the uncertainty caused by the resignation of Chris Huhne and the desire to get a candidate, an MP, elected that everybody can work with a trust.”

After half an hour knocking on doors, Mr Pickles and Ms Hutchings retired to the King and Queen pub for lunch.

Comments(11)

Yorkyboy22 says...
2:35pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Make sure you get plenty of chips with it Eric, wouldn't want you fading away!

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elvisimo says...
3:10pm Mon 11 Feb 13

“It’s really important I think to give David Cameron some additional support in the House of Commons.”

Hmm - with him in it, I think its really important that the House of Commons recieves aditional support - fatty.

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SDC1964 says...
3:58pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Wouldn't it be very satisfying if Eastleigh gave the coalition a bloody nose by not returning an MP from either party.

I bet all the bakers sold out of pies today!

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ohec says...
4:07pm Mon 11 Feb 13

He must have felt quite at home in Eastleigh with all the eating establishments, i just hope he paid the VAT if he couldn't manage to get past Greggs.

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Paramjit Bahia says...
4:10pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Big beasts of Tories need feeding after just half spent having bit of chat with people and photos taken by the pro Tory press.

Wonder what the same Tories will say if construction or factory workers ask for cup of tea after two hours of hard labour?

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griffon says...
4:48pm Mon 11 Feb 13

No doubt he was able to reassure the locals that the price of yachts won't be going up.

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jonnyx says...
6:46pm Mon 11 Feb 13

aside from suffering a rather debilitating form of political ideology, i've heard that pickles can't wear a tie and belt at the same time lest he be mistaken for a string of sausages.

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Outside of the Box says...
7:04pm Mon 11 Feb 13

Instead of cutting council budgets, maybe Pickles should cut his food intake, glad I never saw the fat fooker blobbing around Hamble.

The Echo headline should have read Political heavyweight visits Eastleigh

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IronLady2010 says...
9:18pm Mon 11 Feb 13

The Government have how many compaigns to try and keep us Healthy?

They harp on about obesity being a drain on the NHS, a great example shown here!

This man has more fat on his face than I have on my a*se.

Binning the diet, I've decided I'm slim!

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Dchadder says...
10:49am Tue 12 Feb 13

A heavyweight figure. Sure is. We need to do a bit more than just walk about a bit don't we sir?

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Linesman says...
2:17pm Tue 12 Feb 13

Is this a Tory campaign or an advert for Weight Watchers?

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