Cabinet minister barred from Keighley pub (From Keighley News)
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Cabinet minister barred from Keighley pub
8:26am Wednesday 26th December 2012 in News By Alistair Shand
Keighley-born Cabinet minister Eric Pickles has been barred from one of the town’s pubs.
The Tory political heavyweight is not welcome in the Great Northern, says landlord Mickey Thompson.
And a photo of the former Worth Valley councillor has been posted on the dartboard.
Mr Thompson, 42, has issued the ban in response to the Communities and Local Government Secretary’s comment on radio that he wouldn’t return to Yorkshire.
Mr Pickles, the MP for Brentwood and Ongar, was quoted by some press as saying on Desert Island Discs that he hated going back to his native county.
But the confusion was caused by the word “ain’t” being mistaken for “hate”. However Mr Thompson said that to put Yorkshire down was “not on”. He intends raising the issue at a meeting of the local Pubwatch scheme and hopes to get the ban extended to other hostelries.
“We need people to bully up this great county and not put it down,” he said. “There are people on the Pubwatch banned list for lesser offences than this.”
He added: “My mother is Irish but I am Keighley born and bred and I am fiercely proud of my roots.”
Mr Pickles, an ex-pupil of the former Greenhead School in Keighley, said he had spent most of his life as “a professional Yorkshireman dispensing northern wisdom to an occasionally receptive south”.
He told the Keighley News: “What I said was ‘Essex is my home and I ain't going back to Yorkshire’ - not the greatest use of English grammar I admit, but hardly an attack on the county of my birth. It is clear enough on the broadcast. I speak with great affection of my Yorkshire roots and Bradford in the rest of the programme, which makes an attack on my old home seem unlikely.”
Responding to his pub ban, Mr Pickles said: “I think I called in for a pint of mild at the Great Northern around the summer of 1970 and have not been back since.
“As for the landlord, if he lacks faith in a fellow Yorkshireman's commitment to his county I can only conclude he must have a bit of Lancashire blood running through his veins!”
Comments(18)
Chimo
says...
11:17am Thu 27 Dec 12
cronk stanley
says...
1:18pm Thu 27 Dec 12
To be honest, he probably likes Essex better as the county is mainly flat, better for getting arround with " his gross tonnage "
On these sites, allot of adverse publicity about Bradford has been leveled, so should all those expressing their opinion be barred from the cities pubs ?
Freedom of speech was barred long ago in favour of political correctness, have we got the first steps here of barring freedom of opinion ?
samuels david
says...
8:02pm Thu 27 Dec 12
David samuels.
jimmy k
says...
8:43pm Thu 27 Dec 12
Mixter
says...
2:29pm Fri 28 Dec 12
And i also dont believe Fat Eric will lose too much sleep over his ban. Id also think that before his 'insult', had he actually walked into the pub, there'd be few if any of the regulars had a clue who he was anyway.
I recall him delivering our papers for a short while in between regular paperboys from his dads shop.
Shauny-Boy
says...
9:33pm Fri 28 Dec 12
Since the smoking ban, pubs have been closing on a daily basis, so if Mickey Thompson sees fit to ban the hippo-like Member of Parliament, and it brings much needed customers then why not?
Good on you Mickey!!
samuels david
says...
12:25am Sat 29 Dec 12
lampooning a politian is fair game, but persons physical characteristics in any way are not, but that’s just my own opinion!
David Samuels
Shauny-Boy
says...
1:05am Sat 29 Dec 12
Yes, it is your opinion and yes, you are entitled to that opinion, but in MY opinion, if someone, who has been voted into Parliament allows himself to become, in MY opinion, morbidly obese, then not only is he letting his constituents down, but also his family and ultimately himself.
I'm afraid he's a heart attack waiting to happen!
cronk stanley
says...
9:20am Sat 29 Dec 12
I bet that they are laughing their socks off in Ongar, what a embarrassment for Keighley and Yorkshire, just another example of small town stupidity.
Shauny-Boy
says...
9:27am Sat 29 Dec 12
Yes he made a comment that he claimed was misheard, but did he really expect there to be no backlash in his hometown?
Maybe he was feeling slightly anonymous and felt the need to raise his profile somewhat?
cronk stanley
says...
9:38am Sat 29 Dec 12
Shauny-Boy wrote:Full marks for your diagnostic observation
Mr Samuels, Yes, it is your opinion and yes, you are entitled to that opinion, but in MY opinion, if someone, who has been voted into Parliament allows himself to become, in MY opinion, morbidly obese, then not only is he letting his constituents down, but also his family and ultimately himself. I'm afraid he's a heart attack waiting to happen!
cronk stanley
says...
9:46am Sat 29 Dec 12
Shauny-Boy wrote:Sorry, perhaps I did not make myself clear, I was not referring to your good self, my comments are directed at the small mindedness of barring him from The Great Northern, and the intention of bringing the matter to Pubwatch.
I find nothing stupid in my comments, just thoughts that come from within. Yes he made a comment that he claimed was misheard, but did he really expect there to be no backlash in his hometown? Maybe he was feeling slightly anonymous and felt the need to raise his profile somewhat?
Once again, not a personal attack on your comments.
Shauny-Boy
says...
10:19am Sat 29 Dec 12
But I reiterate my point that Mickey Thompson, who has only in the last few weeks taken over at the Great Northern, has spotted a great advertising opportunity by 'barring' Mr Pickles. Deep down he probably doesn't give a **** about what Mr Pickles allegedly said, so why not cash in so to speak!
Mixter
says...
12:28pm Sat 29 Dec 12
Has anyone, ever, patronised a pub, restaurant, or any other public building on the strength of someone being barred who last made a personal appearance 40 years ago?
That really is small town stupidity. Sadly of which Keighley has a veritable surplus. The 'slur' and resulting ban, being just two prime examples.
Shauny-Boy
says...
1:14pm Sat 29 Dec 12
Can you not see that the landlord has made the banning order as a very tongue in cheek exercise?
I don't think it shows 'small town stupidity' more like pride in ones hometown, nothing more nothing less.
Maybe a few more people should take pride in their hometown and not run it down at every opportunity!
cronk stanley
says...
2:53pm Sat 29 Dec 12
It is sad that community locals are suffering so much due to high beer taxes ect. so I will go along with what Shauny & Mixter have said.
I do think that we may well look fools in Ongar, I hope that Yorkshire people are not barred there, Chipping Ongar does have some nice pubs, well worth a visit if you are in that area.
samuels david
says...
6:12pm Mon 31 Dec 12
The Keighley Town Council I know and now totally distrust would, if they had full authority, as they are seeking, would jump at the opportunity of making extra money to prop up the finances of its inept financial management, as it must be said is Bradford at this moment.
David Samuels
jimmy k says...
8:51pm Wed 26 Dec 12