ERIC Pickles has lost his job as Local Government Secretary in David Cameron’s reshuffle, ending the Cabinet career of the former Bradford Council leader.

The prime minister promoted Greg Clark to the key role, in an attempt to build bridges with council leaders bruised by repeated battles with Mr Pickles.

Unlike the outgoing Local Government Secretary, Mr Clark is openly passionate about devolution and boasts long experience of negotiating ‘City Deals’ with councils.

He is also on the left of the Conservative party, having once been a member of the SDP – in stark contrast to the Thatcherite Mr Pickles.

However, Councillor David Green, Bradford Council’s Labour leader, cast doubt on hopes of smoother relations with Whitehall, with further massive cuts still to come.

He said: “There’s always a danger of talking about individuals, rather than the particular policy that is being followed.

“Whilst I don’t believe Eric Pickles was good for local government, he was representative of a Government that seemed happy to attack local democracy and accountability.”

Mr Pickles, born in Keighley, said his “new role" would be announced in the next few days and is expected to join the Holocaust Commission, as well as becoming anti-corruption tsar.

Kris Hopkins, the Keighley MP and local government minister, was still waiting to hear if he will be moved, when Mr Cameron completes his reshuffle.

Meanwhile, former Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie was promoted to Shadow Chancellor, following Ed Balls’ defeat – but pending the election of a new Labour leader, probably in September.