Sunday Papers: Why Cowboy Prescott Will Fall Off His Horse This Week

Having now completed by trawl of the Sunday papers I've come to the view that Prescott's position is now terminal. As Cilla Black might say, let's have a quick reminder of what's in today's papers...

MAIL ON SUNDAY

Front page article alleging Prescott received a cowboy outfit including tooled leather boots, a Stetson hat and a belt bearing his initials, which according to the MoS could be wirth up to $20,000. The MoS says he has not declared these gifts, which, if true, would be very serious indeed. They also have a poll which says 70% of people are against Prescott running the country in August while the Dear Leader goes on his latest freebieholiday. The MoS also alleges that key Prescott aides attended meetings on the sale of the Dome. There is a two page feature on Philip Anschutz's ranch and a two page feature on Rosie Winterton, which I will return to later. Peter Dobbie describes Prescott's attempt to cling to office.

SUNDAY TIMES

Front page article on Miliband being lined up by Blair to take over from Prescott. Two page feature headlined PREZZA'S BIG GAMBLE ON DOME BILLIONAIRE. Simon Jenkins says he should go for the one thing he didn't do - his job.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

On the front page they repeat the Sunday Times story about Dabid Miliband bein glined up to succeed Prescott. There is a two page feature reporting on a dinner between Prescott and Anschutz at which they discussed the possibility of an entertainment complex at the Dome. Matthew D'Anocona likens Prescott's situation to starring in his final Western. He reports a senior Blairite as saying: "He [Blair] regards him [Prescott] as a figure of fun and feels he moved over to Gordon's side two years ago. You look at him, this overweight guy with diabetes, and almost feel sorry for him, and then you remember the times he's been rude to you and the moment passes pretty quickly." D'Ancona continues: "He is a stranger to the modern word. "It's called the internet, isn't it?" he said last week. complaining about the Tory Iain Dale's excellent blog and its allegations about his conduct. Here is a man railing against his own obsolescence."

INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

Page two report on Norman Baker reporting Prescott's ranch visit to the Police under the 1916 Prevention of Corruption Act. Three page feature headlined CALAMITY JOHN and a smaller article revealing that Kelvin Mackenzie is publishing a book called the John Prescott Kama Sutra. Columnist John Rentoul writes that Prescott should have gone earlier, but now he should stay (work that one out if you can), but a page later the IoS editorial says he should go.

THE OBSERVER

Gaby Hinsliff reports that Philip Anachutz is threatening to withdraw his £250 investment in the Dome if he doesn't get a casino. She also reports that Prescott failed to register corporate hospitality at Silverstone on the basis that he didn't need to because he was presenting a prize. Rawnsley ignores it, there's no feature and no editorial.