Only Way is Essex, says Yorkshire-born MP

The MP for Brentwood and Ongar talked of his love of Essex on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, telling Kirsty Young: “I am afraid I am going to have to admit to treason on air – I like Essex.”

He then apparently said he “hated” going back to Yorkshire – but after the show he denied using that word.

Some listeners thought he said: “Essex is my home and I hate going back to Yorkshire.”

Talking about Essex, he added: “I like its in-your-face attitude. It’s a stunningly beautiful county and I have taken an interest in birdwatching over the last 12 years and I just love the marshland and the flatland and by the shore.”

After protests on social media sites, Mr Pickles put out a clarification via Twitter, saying: “I did not say on Desert Island Discs I ‘hate’ going back to Yorkshire. I clearly said ‘ain’t’, meaning Essex is my home.”

Political opponents were quick to pick up on his comments.

Leeds Labour councillor James Lewis tweeted: “Like many Yorkshire people I hate Pickles. The South are more than welcome to him.”

Keighley-born Pickles, 60, went on to talk about what he called his “car crash” appearance on Question Time in 2009 on which he justified his need for a second home in London, saying that without one he would need to get up at 5.30am to drive 37 miles to Westminster.

He later got a “prolonged hug from David Cameron. I apologised but he is a good boss and he understands that we all have off days”, he told listeners.

His choice of music included Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Chris Rea, Mozart and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

The MP said his favourite disc was Puccini’s Tosca.