It was the Silly Season - summer holiday weeks when MPs do not have to go to the House of Commons to make a name for themselves but just talk to the local newspaper (or 'tweet') to remind us of their immense value - usually with a few daft ideas. A true adherent to the genre, England's communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles, chose his moment away from Parliament to utter quite the worst idea I have ever heard - even from a politician.
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