Tory 'entitlement' failed the country | Lord Pickles

“I do believe there was a degree of entitlement.”
The Conservatives need to "reset" and remember that they're there "to serve the public", says former Conservative party chair Lord Pickles.
📻 Listen to Times Radio - www.thetimes.c...
📍 Subscribe to our channel - / @listentotimesradio
🗞 Subscribe to The Times www.thetimes.c...
📲 Get the free Times Radio app www.thetimes.c...

[@chickenbites8877]

The most disappointing thing of the entire election is Cruella Braverman keeping her seat, truly unforgivable.

[@houldenc22]

Nah she's going to make absolutely sure the Tories destroy themselves

[@ajw9533]

That's the guy who moaned at the Grenville Enquiry for wasting his valuable time. He knows about entitlement.

[@PatrickWhelan-sp1th]

It's totally rich Pickles talking about entitlement what a hypocrite

[@lesigh1749]

Enquiries are always a waste of time. As a nation we have become obsessed with these pointless jollies for lawyers and retired judges, and they achieve absolutely nothing.

[@YouTubemessedupmyhandle]

@@lesigh1749Hillsborough inquiry resulted in all seater stadiums and was a key factor in the premier league era. Just one example (the Grenfell inquiry will be far reaching in construction and housing as well).

[@lesigh1749]

@@KZbinmessedupmyhandle Grenfell enquiry was pointless, the cladding used on that tower wasn't up to the regulation that already existed and shouldn't have ben used, the enquiry didn't add anything. it also failed to address the unregistered humans in the building which is why no accurate death toll was able to be recorded. Also in both the cases you cite, there was already an inquest at a coroners court which legally looked at the circumstances surrounding the fatalities, the enquiry was a jolly for retired judges and QCs in both cases.

[@johnmason5626]

He says partygate was “a small think”!!! He STILL doesn’t get it

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

Who told all the lies,who told all the lies, you overweight referee,you told all the lies.l am not allowed to swear but it goes something like that.

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

Lord Pickles: "...a bit of contrition and self-awareness would be welcome..." Oh, reeeeaaaalllly? 😮

[@suec6521]

Petty criminality (insider betting) and a lack of morals and ethics displayed by a Party routinely is disgraceful. However the real crimes only become evident over time and it took 14 years, the aftermath of a financial crash, a pandemic and brexit to make it plain to the electorate what the Conservatives were really up to. That was implementing disaster capitalism which saw a massive shift of wealth from working (and unemployed) people, to the richest. The new Labour Government must ensure that shift of wealth is stopped and indeed reversed.

[@ScruffyTubbles]

"That was implementing disaster capitalism which saw a massive shift of wealth from working (and unemployed) people, to the richest. The new Labour Government must ensure that shift of wealth is stopped and indeed reversed." I never thought of it that way.

[@tomricketts7821]

Set the tax man on them audit with forensic accountants

[@robertcreighton4635]

Hello, Police? Yes, this is Starmer, 10 Downing St. I'd like to report the theft of a Sky Dish and receiver..... "

[@jsd8981]

LoL 😂😂

[@anthonysteel6877]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.If they had behaved with any contrition and or self awareness during their long long years in power they might have come across as having some semblance of humanity,they didn't.

[@thecheesefactor]

It started with austerity. Let's use the Banking crisis to reboot Thatcher's small-state ideology. Now public services are broken and the UK is bleeding public cash to foreign investors. The Tories cry - "look, small boats!"

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

The swamp is a little putrid but still a long way to go let's hope labour does not start making its own swamp. Ittle

[@gregjones8412]

Eric Pickles would make a great shopkeeper in Coronation Street.

[@TerriObrien-mi5rx]

Labour appointing credible ministers and also having specialist ministers to support the government,at last much improvement from constant changes,chaos lies and inexperienced friends sycophants and family 🤡🤡😡

[@lesigh1749]

Credible ministers like David Lammy and Anneliese Dodds? Ask them what a woman is, I dare you.

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

Seems like Lord Pickles has been eating ALL the food in the UK. No wonder food banks are popping up everywhere.

[@roywatson8133]

the rich get fatter the poorer get thinner

[@jamesbrowne7601]

😂😂

[@tomricketts7821]

650 having your cake and eating it dear god there’s a man who appears to know all about that

[@howardtyas70]

So that's where all the biscuits went.

[@alanwatterson2850]

If he had a great fall, I doubt all the King's horses and men would be any help.

[@earlofdoncaster5018]

And we know now just who ate all the pies!

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

Didn't he use to be in monty piefan.

[@Boghopper9999]

Pretty sure Johnson got his share of the biscuits and pies too

[@alanwatterson2850]

@@Boghopper9999 Always

[@treborsirrah7916]

Truss gone ,Lettuce rejoice

[@pmfg875]

Yesterday I learnt lettuce can answer back

[@mrb.5610]

@@pmfg875 Very droll !

[@TimComley]

Can you go next

[@freddysw]

they need to be worried about the iceberg head

[@DavisJ-ln6fw]

Nice

[@HJJSL-bl8kk]

I remember Pickles being completely humiliated by a TV audience member when Pickles was justifying his high pay and privileges by talking about getting up and going to Parliament, sometimes having to do extra hours blah-de-blah and a bloke in the audience yelled "That's called going to work!". He really does think he's a cut above us mere mortals. His attitude at the Grenfell Inquiry was shocking but it was good to see him squirm as the barrister laid into him.

[@benk79]

Lord, dragging Pickles out of the bin of history. Someone who is part of the downfall of the Tory Party.

[@pmfg875]

He seems rather chilled out about it all

[@robertcreighton4635]

Where is his neck?

[@tazgecko]

@@robertcreighton4635 Pickles have no neck

[@redemptivepete]

​@@tazgeckoNot even the jar!

[@hollyylloh515]

This Gentleman is not having trouble? No cost of living crisis? Not missing a meal ?

[@TimComley]

How do you know

[@simmybear31]

Too many pies ruined Lord Pickles!

[@sirloin8745]

All the Kings horses & all the Kings men . . .

[@jsd8981]

His mind is pickled....!!!...

[@WinstonTexas829]

Entitlement? I remember in the 2010 election Pickles & the Tory candidate McKeever were passing through the village I lived in at the time, Milnthorpe. They pulled into a one-way section in their large minibus & parked there, blocking the road while they went into the village square to get lunch takeouts. They left it in the road with traffic building up behind until they had collected their orders. It’s one of the most symbolically Tory things I’ve ever seen.

[@JelMain]

Jabber the Hutt is frankly the kind of Tory we sent packing.

[@TimComley]

You didn’t do anything

[@JelMain]

@@TimComley Not doing something - like lending s hand as asked - can be as useful as anything else.

[@jasoncooper9391]

Pickles part of the problem

[@SamLowryDZ-015]

Bit rich coming from someone who refused to give up their ministerial limo when all ministers were asked by Cameron to do so.

[@JohnSmall314]

But is what he's saying true or not?

[@BillDavies-ej6ye]

@@JohnSmall314 What he says is, "we need to re-engage in a little bit of contrition and self-awareness." So, in the doldrums for a bit, say sorry (hand on heart) and then it's back to tory business-as-usual.

[@alfching2499]

Fleecing its Voters and Treating the country with disrespect dont adhere with Voters

[@jamesrashbrook9485]

Jeez,how many ermine have to be sacrificed to cover his house of lords robes

[@redemptivepete]

Wonder what a guy of that size knows about 'Rock bottom?'

[@kola100]

It needs Tories to tell the truth for once, implement policies that are good for the country, not for themselves. And have some integrity!

[@martinahardaker8739]

Don't agree with the House of Lords. Should be scrapped.IMO

[@guydreamr]

The Tories have been Pickled.

[@paulbird3235]

Lord Pickles, one step above Lizz Truss. What DID he do for the party! "a bad product" well we can't argue with that can we.

[@AndreaStobbart]

No more privite helicopter on expenses no more lavish lunches Tories have yo pay for everything from their on pocket now

[@rebreaville9332]

Brilliant question “Is the Tory leadership selection process flawed?” Why would the TImes ask that? I mean, why???

[@nickwalsh527]

Love the way this joker wants to give the Tory party membership more rather than less say in choosing the leader of the party. He obviously missed the bit when the membership gave us, consecutively, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. Its just no good shovlelling more power into the hands of a tiny sliver of the population when that tiny sliver's judgement is so obviously flawed.

[@MrSrunsted]

Without glasses, Clark Kent is Superman. Without glasses, Lord Eric Pickles is ........Captain Underpants.

[@robertgavin980]

Good job pickles had sumo wrestling to fall back on.

[@GeoffV-k1h]

Eric pickles is the embodiment of Tory entitlement.

[@bnk777]

We go now live to Jabba’s palace on Tatooine

[@ECECECECEC]

Their entitlement didn’t help but appointing supposedly loyal brexiteers resulted in the dim and incompetent running the country. Speaking of which is pickles the best you could get?

[@gjpromo5640]

Strange how so many Conservatives are now calling out the lack of morality in the party and the disgusting behaviour during Partygate, but stood up and supported those responsible at the time and didn't speak out when the party was in power.

[@anonUK]

Alderman Foodbotham (ask your Torygraph reading Grandad) has spoken! I didn't know he was still alive...

[@greymouser8659]

Blimey....a Sontaran

[@seriousoldman8997]

😂😂😂😂

[@mattwright2964]

What the party needs to do first is think thoroughly about what modern conservatism should be, how they define it and would be able to communicate it, before they pick a new leader.

[@paulbird3235]

"Think" do you mean 'bicker'. The "thinkers" left the party years ago!....🤫🤔😒....

[@mattwright2964]

​@@paulbird3235 very true.

[@enablerbro1]

The Conservatives entered government in 2010 with a very clear plan, begin the transfer of public wealth to privateers. They had identified sources of public wealth managed by public bodies such as schools, local authorities, Police forces, Fire services, the NHS etc and the Conservatives began to squeeze those organisations to offload land and real estate at cut down prices to the private 'sector'. Schools were forced to give away playing fields, Police forces were forced to give away Police stations in prime locations and so on and so on. The Conservatives used the withholding of central government funding as a tool to force these public bodies to comply and, in the process, they have bankrupted them and made them incapable of providing their services. Services that the government were responsible for delivering in the interests of the public. Privately 'owned' wealth has grown in Britain in direct proportion to the managed decline of publicly owned wealth. The Conservatives even robbed banks (google Conservatives target 'dormant' bank accounts, do you really think this money was used for 'good causes'?).

[@NathanChick-n8q]

I hope they pick a leader that makes them more disliked by public and more scandals expose over the following 5 years and they loose worse next time

[@dm9078]

I hope they pick Braverman or Badenoch as leader!

[@mikhanscomb9474]

''we're in a pickle''

[@justinlinnane8043]

we know who ate all the pies then ??

[@andyhart8975]

Nice suntan ……. From the fridge light!

[@tawektawek3838]

I never had a lot of affection for Lord Pickles when he was a government minister, but perhaps I was too harsh to him. He is absolutely right that the betting scandal reveals something had gone seriously wrong with the culture of the Conservative party. The country needs the Conservative party to get its act together, or something more malign will take its place. So I hope they listen to what he says.

[@piccalillipit9211]

*THE GREENS CAME 2ND IN 47 SEATS....!!!* no seat is safe any longer

[@danielfrisk925]

I did hear that Tories were in a bit of a pickle. Sorry i just can't stop myself, despite being on the receiving end due to my surname. It also didnt help that he actually looks like a pickle (in a good way ofcourse).

[@JohnWilliams-tc6fc]

We must bring the last five PM and cabinets to the British courts for justice and get them locked up for their crimes

[@garemacquarrie6705]

You sound like trump, but I tend to agree

[@JohnSmall314]

@@garemacquarrie6705 Following due process of the law is very anti-Trump. We have a common law crime called 'misconduct in public office' which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. It's mostly used for lowly public officials, like the police officers who place a bet on a July general election. But we need to apply the law to ex-ministers and ex-MPs, especially Johnson. From the Crown Prosecution Office website on the topic of misconduct in public office The offence is committed when: * a public officer acting as such * wilfully neglects to perform their duty and/or wilfully misconducts themselves * to such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder * without reasonable excuse or justification Now that definitely applies to Johnson, and many ex-Cabinet minsters. We cannot let criminals get away with it.

[@DiiGiiTAL]

Lord Pickles. 😂

[@henryblunt8503]

They should listen to him but they won't.

[@jsd8981]

Yea public service is a great thing, it's full of secrets...seems like a contradiction in terms to me, I.E.... " Public / Secrets ".....

[@seebarry4068]

The talking big toe is right.

[@martinhughes9769]

That sounds about right the Tories ran the country for themselves and their cronies

[@LordWalsallian]

Lord Pickles sounds like a cartoon character 😂 he’s a big lad int he? 😬😂

[@oulton101]

Pork Pie

[@jamesmurray-fg7pw]

The biggest gravy train supper of the trough ?

[@seriousoldman8997]

And gravy boat.

[@timsimmons5953]

Tories must become conservatives again and fight or educate people what reform really is. We need a conservative party.

[@carlpierce2486]

Like a fish needs a bicycle.

[@timsimmons5953]

@@carlpierce2486 I understand I voted Labour but we need a competent and most of all an educated opposition.

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

I wonder if pickling them extends their best before date.l seriously doubt it.

[@crayontom9687]

‘Lord’ Pickles complaining about entitlement lol

[@perolagrande]

Is this Count Binface?

[@robcarrol]

Lord Pickles is talking absolute sense, the fact that their are fewer and fewer people of principle on the right of British politics should be a worry for everyone. That's the environment that spawned Boris, Truss and Farage

[@profdrrameshkumarbiswas1337]

“Lord Pickles”?? England us a ridiculous country!!

[@bobikdylan]

Our politicians don't assassinate each other. How about yours?

[@rebreaville9332]

Oh look: Tories having a leadership drama! Because nothing says leadership louder than coup plotting. And the Times et al will drool all over the details. Downward spiral continues. Hey, Pickles may be right. Tories may not yet have hit bottom.

[@tommymorrison6478]

He's the archetypical example of the result of a diet of black pudding, pork sausages and beans.

[@TimComley]

Are you an oil painting

[@tommymorrison6478]

@@TimComley Nope. Are you a hamster?

[@speculawyer]

Lord Pickles? 😂

[@dvidclapperton]

All of the tories jiggery pokery to try to cling to power backfired on them.

[@freebornjohn2687]

I hope the Tories regain their moral compass and prioritise public service as the last thing we need is for it go down the sewer chasing votes from Reform.

[@Jeremiah59]

Reform came second place in a lot of constituencies, ignore that at your peril. The right wing vote is split, this needs to be addressed. There needs to be a new right wing consensus.

[@alanwatterson2850]

Assuming there ever was one, where do you advise they look for this lost compass?

[@benk79]

Boris kicked out anyone with a brain, so the idiot-zombies left will learn all the wrong lessons from this defeat... I mean, you have Tories wanting Boris back, tell you just how utter delusional they are.

[@freebornjohn2687]

@@alanwatterson2850 I think people like Ken Clarke, Hague and Dominic Grieve have a moral compass, but the party moved away from them under Johnson who was devoid of one. It will be down to the character of the MPs and also the membership - which I admit is stony ground.

[@freebornjohn2687]

@@Jeremiah59 That will be difficult as the Tories want to be in power, whereas Reform is a populist insurgent who like emotive slogans and are not good at coming up with detailed policies that will get stuff done. They like to make people angry and feel aggrieved. We will have to see what happens on immigration here in the UK but also across the EU. Someone once said that if the liberals don't stop the boats then the fascists will. Europe is being held to ransom by criminals preying on the desperate.

[@harveybrown37]

Blobby Pickles. As his record shows, just another corrupt Tory surprise shocker.

[@frasermitchell9183]

Stop being a Ban-It party. The smoking ban bill was the last straw for me. We can take people in to the armed forces, put them in harm's way, but ban them from having a smoke to calm their nerves. Its just outrgeous frankly. BTW I don't smoke.

[@tomthumb2361]

Pickles?

[@PtolemyJones]

Baffles me the people whose protest against the conservative party whose policies did so much harm by choosing a party even more conservative! Ouch, burning myself with this match hurt, better douse myself in petrol!

[@DavisJ-ln6fw]

No

[@laurieryoung]

Eric Pickles looks like someone painted a face on a thumb

[@aleckerby1236]

Labour entitlement will work better?

[@ipohtennischannel5482]

We have witnessed a seismic change in British politics. The days of the political elite sitting in Westminster ignoring the views, opinions and needs of the public are over. The Conservatives are finally beginning to understand this, but in all likelihood we will now see Labour making the same foolish mistakes.

[@SimonWallwork]

Yes. I doubt much will change under Labour.

[@alanpage3973]

​@@SimonWallworkyes that's right they have been in power for 1 day they have been terrible ffs give them a chance

[@ipohtennischannel5482]

@@alanpage3973 They have been in the House of Commons supporting Conservative policies for the past fourteen years.

[@alanpage3973]

@@ipohtennischannel5482 170 seat majority get over it 😀 🤣 🙄

[@TimComley]

Good podt

[@Rich.H68]

What sort of Scots accent does this guy have? It's comical.

[@zaedenuk]

One that has lived in england 😂

[@sirloin8745]

One that doesn’t mumble?

[@bobikdylan]

No sort. He's from Keighley, West Yorkshire.

[@matthewcook9404]

Lord Pickles clearly doesn’t know how to spell “incompetence “.

[@dilonkumar4960]

Says the guy who works full time for jewistan

[@TEKANNON-bz9fm]

Prime Minister Truss and Prime Minister Sunak might have had less than good reception than people would have liked in Britain, but around the world on the international stage, both Truss and Sunak have made The United Kingdom look like a proud and honorable democratic country with strong democratic values. It is the hardest thing in the world in our era to be president or prime minister of any country, anywhere, but Truss and Sunak talked the talk and walked the walk. The new Prime MInister has got a lot to do and he'll give his all to help get your country going well too.

[@TheRealEtaoinShrdlu]

What the actual fuxk are you smoking!?

[@JohnPark-xf2gq]

Can I have some of the mind altering stuff you must be on have you been living in an alternative universe or has Jimmy not so cleverly Been supplying you with the stuff he joked he gave to his wife to keep her docile.E.

[@robertcreighton4635]

@@JohnPark-xf2gq 😆