- Students James Johnson and Daniel Falveyare are fans of the minister
- They took cardboard cut-out on trip from Florida to Nevada this summer
- Snaps include Las Vegas, Hollywood, Arizona, Texas and New Mexico
By Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor[1]
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Every politician loves a photo opportunity.
But Cabinet minister Eric Pickles has been snapped with Las Vegas showgirls, on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and admiring the Golden Gate Bridge - without leaving his Whitehall office.
Students James Johnson and Daniel Falvey took a cardboard cut out of the larger-than-life Communities Secretary on a road trip from Florida to Nevada and posted their holiday snaps online.
Showstopper: The cardboard cut our of Eric Pickles attracted attention in Las Vegas, after crossing the US with two students
High flier: The safety conscious minister was seen wearing a life jacket and headphones on a Virgin America flight from San Francisco to Las Vegas
Cooling off: 'Eric' poses in a shower at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas and was later snapped 'checking on the LA traffic'
Clutching a large brown leather bag and wearing a poppy, 'Eric' has become an internet hit on PicklesRoadTrip.com.[3]
Starting on Miami Beach on August 24, the James and Daniel flew and drove their way across the United States, taking pictures of their carboard companion.
Mr Pickles was so delighted with the results he posed with the cutout when the pair visited the House of Commons.
Where it all began: The first picture posted by PicklesRoadTrip was this snap from Miami Beach
Sightseeing: A fan of major infrastructure projects, 'Eric' admires the Golden Gate Bridge
The trip began in Florida, before taking in Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California before finishing up in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this month.
Along the way 'Eric' is seen lying on a sunbed, sitting on a swing, posing with a cop and a horse, behind the wheel of a campervan and proving that 'bicep curls get the girls' on Muscle Beach, California.
No chips: The cut out made a visit to the casino at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas
Star power: Posing on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, having found a star dedicated to 'Eric'
Power lift: The blog notes how 'bicep curls get the girls' as 'Eric' visits Muscle Beach in California
James and Daniel insist they are huge fans of Mr Pickles. Writing on their blog, they said: 'We are two British undergraduates, currently both at university in the UK.
'This summer, we are taking a coast-to-coast road trip across the American South and felt that there was no one better to accompany us than the Secretary of State for Local Communities and Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP.
'As Conservatives and huge fans of Mr. Pickles, his outlook and his work to modernise and maximise value in our public services, we hope this blog goes some way to document the great man’s adventures across the land of our great Atlantic neighbour.'
Sunseeker: Wearing shades but still clutching his bag, 'Eric' soaks up some sun in Imperial Dunes, California
Horseplay: 'Eric' finds a friend as he visits Phoenix, Arizona and grabs a sunlounger in Crawford, Florida
Swing vote: Taking it easy in Tucson, Arizona as the road trip makes its way across the USA
Centre ground: No need for the local government minister to impose traffic controls in Deming, New Mexico
The pictures were cloesley followed by Mr Pickles, who agreed to meet the students in Westminster when the Commons returned from the conference season.
While the pair and carboard 'Eric' had been enjoying the sun of the southern states, the real Mr Pickles had been holed up in a conference centre in Manchester.
Clearly delighted with his new found fame, Mr Pickles tweeted a picture of himself with the cut out with the message: 'United in Westminster.'
Call the cops: Feeling the long arm of the law in El Paso, Texas
Let's roll: 'Eric' behind the wheel of the camper van in Houston, Texas
Uncle Sam: Meeting big political figures in Tallahassee, Florida
Crowdpleaser: Every British politician wants to be big in America. Here 'Eric' addresses a hall in Vero Beach, Florida
Reunited: Mr Pickles was so pleased with his online fame, he met up with his cardboard likeness and students James Johnson and Daniel Falvey
Read more: PicklesRoadTrip[4]
References
- ^ Matt Chorley, Mailonline Political Editor (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ 0 View comments (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ PicklesRoadTrip.com. (picklesroadtrip.com)
- ^ PicklesRoadTrip (picklesroadtrip.com)
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