Keighley-born Cabinet Minister Eric Pickles has insisted he was misheard when he was reported as saying that he “hates” going back to his native Yorkshire because of his love for his now home county of Essex.

The confusion came as Mr Pickles, a former leader of Bradford Council, told Kirsty Young on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs: “I am afraid I am going to have to admit to treason on air – I like Essex. It’s my home and I ain’t going back to Yorkshire."

But many listeners believed Mr Pickles, who retains a strong Yorkshire accent, used the word “hate” for “ain’t” and the comment provoked headlines.

Now Mr Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, who has been MP for Brentwood and Ongar in Essex since April 1992, has used social media to stress that the word he used was misunderstood.

He has gone on Twitter to say: “I did not say on #DesertIslandDiscs I ‘hate’ going back to Yorkshire. I clearly said ‘ain’t’ (39:55 BBC iPlayer) meaning Essex is my home.”

His special adviser, Giles Kennington, also insisted that Mr Pickles never said “hate”.

“If you listen to it carefully at 39.55 minutes in, you can hear that,” he said.

“He is a massive fan of Yorkshire and Eric has tweeted on it saying ‘ain’t’ is the word he used.”

Regarding his affection for Essex, Mr Pickles had this to say to Mrs Young: “I like its ‘in-your-face’ attitude. It’s a stunningly beautiful county and I have taken an interest in birdwatching over the last 12 years and I just love the marshland and the flatland and by the shore.”

Mr Pickles, who was educated at Greenhead Grammar School in Keighley and Leeds Polytechnic, also told how he joined the Young Conservatives as a “rebellion” against his Labour-supporting family.

Speaking on the radio show, he said he was a “very contented person”.

Asked about his career, he added: “Speculating where you may or may not want to go is very career-limiting “To be really honest with you, I could put away politics and walk away without a second glance. I am a very contented person and I think it comes from understanding that I was not pre-ordained when I was born in Keighley in 1952 to arrive at this place.”