01/06/2006
Prescott surrenders Dorneywood retreat
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has given up his grace-and-favour home, Dorneywood, it has been announced.
Mr Prescott has been heavily criticised for keeping Dorneywood, after he was stripped of his ministerial duties in last month's Cabinet reshuffle.
Although he no longer has any departmental duties, Mr Prescott was still allowed to retain the title of Deputy Prime Minister, keep his ministerial salary and perks, including Dorneywood and a flat in Admiralty House.
Mr Prescott was stripped of his duties, following the revelation that he had an affair with his diary secretary. However, he continued to face calls to resign from opposition parties.
The row continued over the weekend, when photographs were published showing the Deputy Prime Minister playing croquet at Dorneywood on the day that he took over running the country from Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is on holiday.
Some Labour MPs have welcomed Mr Prescott's decision to give up Dorneywood, including Stephen Pound, Ian Gibson and Environment Secretary David Miliband.
However, one Labour backbencher Austin Mitchell told the BBC that Mr Prescott was "daft" to give up Dorneywood, suggesting that the media would still continue to hound him.
The decision was also welcomed by Conservative party chairman Francis Maude, who said: "At last John Prescott has done the right thing. It is just a pity he has taken so long to do it." However, he added: "John Prescott is merely a symptom of a government that is falling apart at the seams."
Responding to the decision, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, said: "I don't think anyone cares. This whole debate about whether he stays or goes is irrelevant. He is irrelevant. This is a government clinging on and running out of steam.
"His political career is finished. It's a sure sign when a government has been in office too long when ministers have to be dragged kicking and screaming from their country houses. I suspect, that as a result, John Prescott is now history."
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said that Mr Prescott could no longer be taken seriously. He said: "This is clearly an effort to deal with the criticism that he was enjoying a large salary and perks with no clearly defined departmental responsibilities.
"However, this doesn't solve the underlying problem that he has been half-sacked by Tony Blair and has lost his credibility. He had an important role standing in for the Prime Minister and unfortunately now he can no longer be taken seriously."
(KMcA)
Mr Prescott has been heavily criticised for keeping Dorneywood, after he was stripped of his ministerial duties in last month's Cabinet reshuffle.
Although he no longer has any departmental duties, Mr Prescott was still allowed to retain the title of Deputy Prime Minister, keep his ministerial salary and perks, including Dorneywood and a flat in Admiralty House.
Mr Prescott was stripped of his duties, following the revelation that he had an affair with his diary secretary. However, he continued to face calls to resign from opposition parties.
The row continued over the weekend, when photographs were published showing the Deputy Prime Minister playing croquet at Dorneywood on the day that he took over running the country from Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is on holiday.
Some Labour MPs have welcomed Mr Prescott's decision to give up Dorneywood, including Stephen Pound, Ian Gibson and Environment Secretary David Miliband.
However, one Labour backbencher Austin Mitchell told the BBC that Mr Prescott was "daft" to give up Dorneywood, suggesting that the media would still continue to hound him.
The decision was also welcomed by Conservative party chairman Francis Maude, who said: "At last John Prescott has done the right thing. It is just a pity he has taken so long to do it." However, he added: "John Prescott is merely a symptom of a government that is falling apart at the seams."
Responding to the decision, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, said: "I don't think anyone cares. This whole debate about whether he stays or goes is irrelevant. He is irrelevant. This is a government clinging on and running out of steam.
"His political career is finished. It's a sure sign when a government has been in office too long when ministers have to be dragged kicking and screaming from their country houses. I suspect, that as a result, John Prescott is now history."
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Vince Cable said that Mr Prescott could no longer be taken seriously. He said: "This is clearly an effort to deal with the criticism that he was enjoying a large salary and perks with no clearly defined departmental responsibilities.
"However, this doesn't solve the underlying problem that he has been half-sacked by Tony Blair and has lost his credibility. He had an important role standing in for the Prime Minister and unfortunately now he can no longer be taken seriously."
(KMcA)
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30 May 2006
Prescott faces increasing pressure to resign
Beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is continuing to face increasing calls to resign. Mr Prescott, who is running the country this week while Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday, faced more controversy when photographs of him playing croquet at his country home on the day he took over from Mr Blair were published.
Prescott faces increasing pressure to resign
Beleaguered Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is continuing to face increasing calls to resign. Mr Prescott, who is running the country this week while Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday, faced more controversy when photographs of him playing croquet at his country home on the day he took over from Mr Blair were published.
06 June 2003
Prescott puts diplomacy on the long finger
John Prescott, the man who nominally keeps his hand on the tiller of Great Britain plc when Tony Blair is out of the country, raised a hand – and two fingers – in salute of the press pack outside Downing Street yesterday.
Prescott puts diplomacy on the long finger
John Prescott, the man who nominally keeps his hand on the tiller of Great Britain plc when Tony Blair is out of the country, raised a hand – and two fingers – in salute of the press pack outside Downing Street yesterday.
27 September 2004
New plans set to get first time buyers on property ladder
Proposals to make better use of public sector land and help first time buyers have been outlined by the Deputy Prime Minister today. Smarter use of public sector-owned land and driving down spiralling construction costs would help people get onto the housing ladder, John Prescott said. Since 2003 the number of first time buyers has fallen by 27%.
New plans set to get first time buyers on property ladder
Proposals to make better use of public sector land and help first time buyers have been outlined by the Deputy Prime Minister today. Smarter use of public sector-owned land and driving down spiralling construction costs would help people get onto the housing ladder, John Prescott said. Since 2003 the number of first time buyers has fallen by 27%.
05 July 2006
Prescott faces inquiry over US ranch stay
An inquiry has been launched into Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's stay at the ranch of a US billionaire involved in a bid to turn the Millennium Dome into a supercasino. It has emerged that Mr Prescott stayed at the Philip Anschutz's ranch in July last year and it is also believed that he met with the American tycoon on seven other occasions.
Prescott faces inquiry over US ranch stay
An inquiry has been launched into Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott's stay at the ranch of a US billionaire involved in a bid to turn the Millennium Dome into a supercasino. It has emerged that Mr Prescott stayed at the Philip Anschutz's ranch in July last year and it is also believed that he met with the American tycoon on seven other occasions.
26 April 2006
John Prescott admits to two-year affair
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has admitted to having a two-year affair with one of his secretaries. The 67-year-old confessed to the affair in an interview with the 'Daily Mirror'. According to the report, the affair between Mr Prescott and 43-year-old Tracey Temple began after the office Christmas party in 2002.
John Prescott admits to two-year affair
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has admitted to having a two-year affair with one of his secretaries. The 67-year-old confessed to the affair in an interview with the 'Daily Mirror'. According to the report, the affair between Mr Prescott and 43-year-old Tracey Temple began after the office Christmas party in 2002.
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