ONGAR MP and new secretary for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles has said he has "enjoyed" the discovery of a leaked memo which advises his new Government staff to heap praise on him.

The secret document, revealed in today's Sunday Telegraph newspaper, was drawn up by top officials in Mr Pickles's new Whitehall department to give civil servants guidance on how to behave around their new Conservative masters.

It is believed ministers were never supposed to see the memo.

According to the newspaper, staff are urged to use Tory "buzzwords" like "family" and "neighbourhoods".

It is also suggested that they use phrases such as "Congratulations! I had so much confidence in you, I might get complacent!"

The memo also advises: "More than three [civil servants] facing the Secretary of State [in a conversation] risks diluting the rapport" and that staff should not use "we" when referring to the previous government.

Revealingly, the document apparently states that the "agenda" of civil servants is "different" to that of ministers but that the department is willing to be flexible.

It also implies the department's budget may be cut by as much as two-fifths.

The document also reveals that staff had "role play" training to help them get along with new ministers.

Commenting on the article on his Twitter internet blog, Mr Pickles said he had "enjoyed" the memo.

He added: "[I] Wonder who played me in Role Play-secretly hope [it was] Brian Blessed."