Relations between the local government sector and communities secretary, Eric Pickles, have hit an all-time low, with allegations of a smear campaign and public rows with the minister surfacing in the past week.
LGA Lib Dem group leader, Richard Kemp, who previously compared Mr Pickles and housing minister, Grant Shapps, with Laurel and Hardy, has now accused the ministers' special advisers of launching a smear campaign against him.
