Gordon Brown fights to save his career

Prescott under increasing pressure

John Prescott, the deputy prime minister for the United Kingdom is fighting to keep his already difficult career.

Recent allegations about his various activities have further dampened his ill- fated reputation. Certainly his political future looked doubtful last night as his fellow ministers questioned whether he should be left in charge of the country when Tony Blair takes his annual summer holiday.

John Prescott has always been a controversial character. He was widely criticised in 2001 for thumping a protester in the street during the election campaign. Admittedly he had just had an egg hurled at him, but still this is not the sort of behaviour you expect to see from a senior Member of Parliament. Tony Blair’s defence that "John is John" does suggest that not only is this behaviour unacceptable, but also that it is partly inevitable. That is how john Prescott is and that is the end to it.

But his proficiency at physical bust ups are not his only faux par. Last May, when Prescott was acting prime minister, it is no wonder the country were criticising him. This was his chance to shine and could have been his moment to show just what a marvellous job he could do. But instead of singing his praises, newspapers delighted in printing pictures of him playing croquet on the lawns of Dorneywood- his grace and favour house in Buckinghamshire. The day after these pictures were printed he reluctantly gave up his use of the beautiful house.

Yet again Prescott found himself in the dog house this April, when his two year extra marital affair with Tracy Temple, his diary secretary, was revealed. As his opponents, and the newspapers, revelled in the saucy pictures of the couple cavorting at parties, his fellow ministers yet again found themselves defending John.

However was she just the first? Prescott has already admitted to this affair, but only yesterday on BBCs Today programme, he failed six times to deny that he had other affairs. Perhaps more problems are soon set to come.

Prescott has acknowledged that his reputation has damaged the government, but still insists that politic is his life, and "when I get involved in these incidents I am extremely sorry". However, perhaps not quite sorry enough, as his recent shenanigans have catapulted him to the spotlight once again.

Due to conservative party criticism, Prescott has admitted that he did indeed spend a weekend at the ranch of Mr.Anschutz in the United States. His failure to publicly state this of his own accord and to write it into the register of MPs interests has caused huge problems. Firstly there is now a full inquiry into the trip. Why was he there, what was he doing and why did he not first admit it? Prescott claims that he felt there was no need, however as soon as the Conservative Party had reported it to Sir Phillip Mawer (the House of Commons Watchdog), Prescott immediately put it in. His failure to write it in of his own accord and then when found out make a swiftly U- turn has caused speculation that Prescott has got something to hide.

But this is only the very start of his recent spate of problems.

The major charge is that Mr Prescott used his influence to help efforts by Mr. Anschutz to secure a lucrative gambling license which would enable the billionaire to open a ‘super- casino’ at the Millennium Dome. Indeed the evidence is strong. Prescott has admitted that he has met with Anschutz seven times since 2002. This includes his two night stay at the cattle ranch in Colorado which itself has undermined his reputation.

But the big problem is that it was Mr Anschutz’s firm, AEG, which won the contract to re-develop the Dome. Mr Prescott has claimed that he had no role in helping AEG to secure the license, but government memos show that his officials asked the Culture Department (which controls gambling policies) for regular updates on the success of AEG’s bid. Why would this be, if, as he says, he had no role?

Furthermore, the officials acting for Prescott also recommended that the Culture Minister, Lord McIntosh meet senior members of AEG’s board. But why?

A later accusation that Prescott’s officials tried to dissuade other companies of placing a bid further have added to the scandal.

Prescott is now not only finding that the British public question his competency, but that his fellow colleagues are questioning his future too. Obviously, his role as deputy Prime Minister is an exceedingly important one. To an extent the reputation of the government could be tarnished if the dark background surrounding Prescott proves to be corrupt. As members of the public, we like to have a trustworthy, honest and reputable minister. Some still believe this is what Mr. Prescott is- but the mounting evidence and public opinion suggest that he is far from the respectable man we could hope for his role.