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The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

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Things that look like Eric Pickles

Yes, it’s a giant thumb.

By Jon Bernstein Published 06 January 2011 15:10

Those of you who subscribe to the New Statesman (and why wouldn't you?) will be familiar with the weekly political lookalike*. Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is our current obsession. And if you want to know what led us to drawing on our thumbs, read Kevin Maguire's latest column.

Send your Eric-a-likes, or other suggested lookalikes, to editorial@newstatesman.co.uk.

(* There's some more highbrow stuff in the magazine too. Honest.)

More from Jon Bernstein

View the discussion thread.

27 comments

Fri, 2011-01-07 19:40 — Derek Tickles (not verified)

I suspect I am his biggest fan (in size only) , it is safe to say he is a clown.

http://derektickles.blogspot.com/

Thu, 2011-01-06 15:28 — gunillakinn

When I read articles like this I remember why I stopped my New Statesman subscription. Let's all laugh at the fat man. Very progressive. Do call back when you've got something constructive to say.

Thu, 2011-01-06 15:44 — Tom Donnelly (not verified)

Excellent.

Thu, 2011-01-06 15:46 — Guy Debored (not verified)

what - you can't even poke fun at a jumped-up lardy local councillor anymore? Lighten up for heaven's sake.
Spud, thumb, Jabba the Hut, Cyril Smith's bastard son with a chip on his shoulder - tell it like it is NS...

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:00 — iain warnes (not verified)

like a fried
breakfast good to eat good for you
but you just know sooner or later your heart will be broken

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:01 — Hans Castorp (not verified)

Surely a Jersey Royal with specs on would be more accurate (and, perhaps, flattering).

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:02 — Hans Castorp (not verified)

Winkley, you area po-faced trot (blows rasberry).

Fri, 2011-01-07 21:06 — Mip (not verified)

Made me laugh - brill. Winkley - why don't we ban all political cartoonists while we're at it in case we hurt Cameron Clegg etc. little feelings. Incidentally, Eric Pickles didn't choose to be born white or male and he may not even have chosen to be fat, but he did choose to look like a thumb because he looked exactly like that back in Bradford 25 years ago which in retrospect for someone who must have ben around 30 at the time was mega wierd. He chose his image and just grew into it agewise.

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:09 — gunillakinn

Just think personal comments about appearance are nasty and undermine the serious criticism that this man (and his ilk) are destroying local democracy with their cuts dressed up as localism.

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:30 — Lou (not verified)

Penfold out of Dangermouse
http://media.photobucket.com/image/penfold/penfold_album/penfold.gif?o=4

Thu, 2011-01-06 16:33 — Guy Debored (not verified)

the man is a walking parody of a Northern Tory. over-fed and unable to see further than his own nose.

Thu, 2011-01-06 17:03 — Matt (not verified)

A jumped up Lardy local councillor; that'll be John "Money Supermarket.com" Prescott then.

Always good to see that the two faced hypocrisy never stops at the Staggers.

Sat, 2011-01-08 00:24 — Andy (not verified)

Such rapier-like wit. Such searing satire. You'll bring the house down with that one. Sit back and watch sales of the Staggers soar into the stratosphere. Or maybe not.

What's wrong with Pickles wanting to do away with government waste? In attempting he is representing working class interests more than the increasingly shitty Labour Party.

What's taking you so long to notice?

Thu, 2011-01-06 17:54 — Stoatiestyle (not verified)

What about the pickled egg controvesy? I can't look at him without thinking of a pickled egg any more. Last paragraph on his wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Pickles

Sat, 2011-01-08 01:32 — thinkov

bring back council house eric

in the shape of a a v sign to your disgusting hatred of councils

to me you look like a darts fan

Thu, 2011-01-06 18:07 — Don (not verified)

I've got another hilarious one for you, Mehdi Hasan looks like a mad al Quaeda terrorist.

Thu, 2011-09-15 08:40 — Anon (not verified)

OK, so he's fat and ugly. I'd love to know in what way repeatedly pointing that out to your readers week after week differs for workplace bullying? Would it be OK if he was a woman to mock his appearance?

I hate the policies of this man and the government he is in. Focus on that, not on his looks.

Thu, 2011-01-06 18:56 — Mary Locke (not verified)

Puts me off chips and baked potatoes for life.

Thu, 2011-01-06 19:16 — Jonathan (not verified)

So would you like to specify what physical characteristics you are able to parody and belittle in your PC world?
Is it ok to do lookalikes of the disabled? or black people?

Or are you just disgusting hypocrites

Thu, 2011-01-06 19:33 — gunillakinn

Jonathan. I don't live in a pc world and I don't like taking the piss out of anyone for their looks. Black, female, fat, thin, disabled. It's all wrong. Much rather deride them for their wrong political opinions than the way they look.

Thu, 2011-01-06 19:36 — swatantra

Its not on to pick on Pickles just becuse he's fat. He should be picked upon because he's a Tory bigot from up North and he's let the North down by paying lp service to Southern Tory policies.

Thu, 2011-01-06 21:26 — Manzil

Yeah, but he does look like a thumb.

Sat, 2011-01-08 15:58 — demonax3

Some very PC readers surfacing. Usually goes with a lack of sense of humour.

Thu, 2011-01-06 18:55 — Talk To Frank

"A jumped up Lardy local councillor; that'll be John 'Money Supermarket.com' Prescott then."

- I'm sure he prefers ex-deputy prime minister. So no, not really a fair comparison in terms of corners fought, positions attained and length of service in front bench government but no, no, please carry on with your pointless rhetoric.

Sat, 2011-01-08 18:50 — matthew fox (not verified)

When Cameron mean't there would be heavy lifting in 2011, he is guessing that Pickles is going to fall down an hole and a fleet of JCB's will have to be bought on PFI to rescue him.