#ThingsElliottSays' Best Politician of the Year Award

Now that 2013 is almost up it is time for #ThingsElliottSays to name the best politician of 2015. This sounds harder than you would think considering there are loads of politicians that have done a lot of good this year. Eric Pickles for example could have been nominated for his work in giving local councils more powers and stopping the Student Bin Tax. Eric Pickles definitely gets a big thumbs up for his budget salad eating photo or his road trip around America (partially brought about by Daniel Falvey of NUCA fame). Eric has most definitely been the funniest politician of the year.

Eric meets Eric

But the winner this year has to be Robert Halfon, the MP for Harlow, for forcing the Conservative Party to connect with voters.

Rob and his Thatcher slippers.

If you own a car you are saving hundreds of pounds a year because of Robert Halfon and his campaign to freeze and cut fuel duty. The people of Britain have a lot to thank him for and so in turn does the Conservative Party because by helping people on day to day issues we gain trust from the electorate. The Conservatives in Government are there to serve the people who put them in place, which is the ordinary people up and down the country who would like their lives to be a little easier. The cutting of fuel duty directly helps ordinary hard working people up and down the country and that is what some of them will remember when going to the ballot boxes in 2015 and voting Conservative.

Rob should also win a fashion award for wearing this in the Commons chamber.

Taking the language of the Left was also another good point Rob has made. The Conservatives aren't as good as Labour of using emotive and caring language when presenting their case that is on terms with ordinary voters. It is very easy to just real off statistics about how big our economic problems are or how much we have saved from the public purses but it simply doesn't win votes. Our language has to be about caring for future generations and looking after people's jobs. We also need to be more emotive in our language because it makes a personal connection in a way that percentages just don't. We have a moral duty to enact Conservative policies upon this country and yet we never talk about the good and brilliant things we have done in government in such a way. Its very cold fish and puts people off, as well as making look like we don't care in some cases.

Rob has done a lot and has some great ideas like making sure everyone is on a living wage through tax cuts and to rename the Conservative Party the 'Workers Party' to accurately reflect the objective of aspiration. But if Robert Halfon has taught the Conservatives anything  it is to campaign for the things that matter to people's lives and then talk about these things using caring language. It has worked for Rob in Harlow so much so that local trade unions are backing him in 2015. He is a worthy winner of the #ThingsElliottSays' best politician of the year award.

With Rob Halfon at the YBF Conference.

Eric meets Eric

It finally happened.

Do you remember the story of Eric Pickles' Holiday. No, well refresh your memory and look here for my story about this with an exclusive interview with Eric Pickles himself. Since then more photos of Eric's road trip have gone up on http://picklesroadtrip.com/ . Here are some  of my favourites.

Choo Choo.

Eric finally made it to Las Vegas, and he loved it.

Not under arrest near the Mexican border.

Pretending to be a bandit.

Flying home.

Put it all on black.

Anyway Eric made it back from America and the real Eric finally met his look a like in Parliament. How you may ask? well let Daniel tell you. He said exclusively to #ThingsElliottSays "I was just going to a dinner in London with a couple of MPs and my friend originally but then we decided to invite Eric. Amazingly he said yes. We were in Parliament as the MPs said it would be good to have a few drinks on the terrace before dinner. Coincidentally, just as we were leaving to meet Eric at the restaurant, we bumped into him as he was leaving Westminster to meet us. One of the first things he said was "let's get a picture with him then". Eric said he found it very funny and his favourite picture was the one of him in the car in LA. He said he had a lot of people ask him about it."

The LA car photo.

Eric Pickles also said of the occasion "I found it very funny ... I was even going to wear the same tie". Eric Pickles is one of the best members of this government so he better keep up the good work. Also much thanks to James and Daniel for the little bit of fun their holiday brought to us. Long live the Pickles cut out.

Exclusive: #ThingsEricPicklesSays

Well I've written another news article for the Tab about two students who have gone on a road trip with RT Hon Eric Pickles MP (see http://tab.co.uk/2013/09/03/students-take-cardboard-eric-pickles-to-america/ ). The Tab article however is only so long and so I can reveal more from the interview of James and Daniel, who have taken Eric on holiday, and what Eric has said to me.

I think Eric Pickles is great. A top government minister who is making sure there is total transparency in what is spent, something that he has rightly forced upon even the socialist Nottingham Labour Council. The one in one out policy for rules and regulations has also been a great success and this is a policy all other Tory ministers should follow. But most importantly in my view Eric has brought about greater decentralisation to local councils, it now counts more than ever to elect the right people (which is the Conservatives of course).

 The Great RT Hon Eric Pickles MP, keep up the good work.

I spoke to James and Daniel, who probably share my views on Eric, as they were travelling through Texas in a motor home. Eric permanently sits by a window when the pair are driving looking at the passing sights. 

 Eric Driving the RV.

James and Daniel told me what they have done "was an out there decision based on following Eric. We've known him as an MP and as a politician and thought he had great gravitas." James and Daniel say Eric is also very funny, and I agree, "his salad mockery of George Osborne's burger and re-tweeting pictures of Eric Pickles snow globes show this. We just wanted to bring Eric to us." Nobody else from the Cabinet will do for James and Daniel "no one else is worthy, it's all about Eric."

 Eric's famous response to George Osborne's Byron burger.

When I asked them what they believe the real Eric Pickles thinks of his cardboard cut out road trip James and Daniel said he would probably be "a little baffled. I hope he does find it funny and that his adventure brings a smile to people's faces." Well I can exclusively tell James and Daniel Eric told me "I'm delighted they are taking me on such a wonderful trip without spending a penny of taxpayers' money. This trip has widened my horizons and I'm really hoping to be taken even further afield next year."

Eric also will be pleased to know that his hope of travelling further may be answered. James and Daniel said "one of our friends in Thailand wants him to be sent over. We will then have the brotherhood of the travelling Pickles. But for now he is coming all the way to Vegas." 

 What would you like to drink Eric.

Eric also told me that if he was to go on an American road trip he would take "James and Daniel and [as a special item] the minutes of an annual council meeting of their choosing."

You can keep up with Eric's Road trip here http://picklesroadtrip.com/2013/08/. I also urge Eric to keep up the good work.

 Having a great time on the beach.

Eric Pickles' Holiday

I like Eric Pickles. As the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities he has overall done a good job. From saying no to the student bin tax (see http://thingselliottsays.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/students-to-pay-bin-tax.html) to the one in one out policy on regulations. Eric is a proper Tory, who has made few mistakes and some great decisions that save us money and bring about better local councils. His battle for truth and justice with Nottingham Council proves this beyond doubt. So a big thumbs up overall to Eric.

 Eric spending some great time in the Florida jungles.

It seems I am not the only fans of Eric Pickles because university students James Johnson and Daniel Falvey, both Tory supporters, have taken Eric for a holiday to America. Or rather they have taken a near life sized card board cut out of Eric. James said "he has a lot of gravitas, and he's a funny man. What better way to spice up our American road trip than bringing along the man himself?"

What can I get you Eric?

Eric giving a speech to a packed house in the US.

The pair have taken him right across the states from civil war battle fields to beaches in Florida. They plan also to take him out to casinos in Las Vegas. Let's wish Eric good luck at the tables.

 Eric on the beach, wearing clothes sensibly to avoid sunburn.

Eric taking a chillaxing tip from Ken Clarke.

You can follow the progress of Eric's holiday at http://picklesroadtrip.com/2013/08/

 Eric with his good friend the alligator hunter in the swamps of the South.

Students to Pay Bin Tax?

Students are always treated badly in general by local government. Take Nottingham for example. The Labour run council has slapped parking permit charges on Students and is trying to make us move from the Lenton area, where most Students live, to off campus halls like accommodation where the rent is near £120 a week. I always find this surprising considering how much money students bring to the local economy and that any tax loss is made up by Eric Pickles. But then again it is partially students fault as they are seen as less likely to vote than usual citizens.

 Nottingham Council, like many a inner-city council, treat their students badly.

But a new idea from local councils has come about to make money and abuse students and that is the bin tax. Local people in a city will still be charged nothing for rubbish collection but students will have to pay £11 for the use of a communal bin. This may be paid by students themselves but is more likely to be charged to landlords increasing rents. Bristol, Sheffield and Manchester are the main councils looking into this charge and have said that they have the power to do this. All of these are Labour run councils, is that a coincidence? 

 Some councils want us students to pay to get rid of our rubbish.

Students however owe a great deal to Eric Pickles, the Conservative Community Secretary. Eric Pickles says that this move is 'sneaky', could leave to a growth in fly tipping and bad for Community relations. Big Eric has also said "instead of using students as a revenue generator, local authorities should be working with them." The laws that allow councils to charge for a bin tax are going against the intention of the regulations of waste disposal. Any move against students could thus be legally challenged by Eric or victimised students.

Eric Pickles is going to make sure that students are treated fairly by councils wishing to extort money.

Labour despite all the hot air about caring for students actually tries to make their lives worse by slapping back door taxes on them. Don't vote for them in your local area. Lets just hope the Bin Tax doesn't become a reality. 

 Do you remember George Osborne's Byron Burger? Well this was Eric's response to it.