MPs question Prescott's future
John Prescott's political future has been questioned
Friday, 28, Apr 2006 12:00
An increasing number of MPs, including some from the Labour party, are questioning John Prescott's political future.
It comes after the deputy prime minister admitted to having an affair with his former secretary Tracy Temple.
The affair has raised questions over whether Mr Prescott has breached the ministerial code, and he could be facing a Whitehall investigation.
Several papers report this morning that as well as public attacks from Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, Labour backbenchers are also questioning the deputy prime minister's political future.
One Labour MP told the Daily Telegraph that Mr Prescott had become a laughing stock.
Derek Conway, a Conservative MP, said the affair was a "public matter" because it was with a civil servant.
"If Mr Prescott is having an affair then I think it is a private matter for him and his wife. But we are talking about the deputy prime minister and a civil servant so this is not a private matter, it is a public matter to do with his office," he told Radio Four's PM.
He added: "I have prodded the cabinet secretary to try to get to the bottom of this. There cannot be one rule for the Blairites and one rule for the rest of the country."
Lord Heseltine, 73, told the Daily Mail: "The post of deputy prime minister gives you a very important part to play in the reputation and good governance of the UK. As of this week, John Prescott can no longer do that job. His political authority is bust. He can never repair that. Mr Prescott can no longer serve a useful purpose in government."
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker also questioned the political implications of the affair, and particularly rumours that Mr Prescott used a ministerial car to transport Ms Temple to his house.
"Although this is a relatively small incident in terms of use of government resources, it is part of a wider pattern of an arrogance that this government and its ministers are displaying," he told the same programme.
Despite the controversy the prime minister has expressed his support for his deputy - describing him as "vital to the Labour party and the government".
"John is somebody who is of great value to me. People don't know the true value of what he does because it is so often behind the scenes," Mr Blair told the Daily Mirror.
"Of course John will be out there in the [local election] campaign. He is somebody who is absolutely vital to the Labour party and the government."
Mr Prescott, 67, has said he "regretted" the affair with Ms Temple, 43, which ended some time ago.
"I did have a relationship with her which I regret. It ended some time ago," he said in a statement.
"I have discussed this fully with my wife Pauline, who is devastated by the news. I would be grateful if Pauline and I can now get on with our lives together."