On 12 May 2010 Eric Pickles MP was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.
In January 2009 David Cameron appointed Eric Pickles Chairman of the Conservative Party. He joined the Shadow Cabinet in July 2007 as the Department for Communities and Local Government Secretary having served from August 2005 to July 2007 as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.
Other posts he has held include Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government and the Regions; Shadow Minister for Transport and Shadow Minister for London; member of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee, Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party, with special responsibility for local government affairs and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Tim Sainsbury MP, Minister for Industry.
Eric Pickles has been Member of Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar since April 1992. Previous political appointments include: Leader of Bradford Council (1988-1990) and Deputy-Leader of the Conservative Group AMA (1989-1991).
He was born in 1952 and was educated at Greenhead Grammar School (a comprehensive), Keighley, and Leeds Polytechnic. He is married. He has previously worked as a Consultant in Employment Practice and Local Government Editor for Conservative Newsline (1990-92). He is a trustee of two local charities - Brentwood Foyer and Brentwood Theatre.
