So what now for John Prescott? Alan Johnson has stoked the story up again by saying he'd like to be Deputy Leader when the time comes (sooner than you think, Alan). I detect strange things happening in Whitehall at the moment. I was tipped off about a rumour this morning that there will be a Prescott-related story in the Sunday newspapers. However, as I haven't been able to stand it up I won't go into any more details. But if indeed there is another story on Sunday it's difficult to see how Prescott could survive another media battering. There is now, I think, an inevitability about his departure from the Government - it's not a question of if, but when. Perhaps someone in one of the tabloids will make public the details of one of his numerous other affairs, which up to now they've not printed. But the real question is this. If he was forced to resign from the Cabinet, would he automatically resign as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party? I can see no rule which would force him to. There is a school of thought that it's in Gordon Brown's interest for him to stay in situ, as Brown wouldn't want someone like Alan Johnson to be able to build a power base from the Deputy Leadership. The same school of thought believes that the Ultras in Number Ten would be quite happy to throw Prezza over the side as he has now outlived his usefulness. Number Ten has developed such a bunker mentality that anything is possible. And let's face it, they've got form in this area. Desperate people do desperate things. There is a whiff of Berlin 1945 about Number Ten at the moment. So if indeed there is a Prescott story in the Sundays, you can rest assured that it emanated from Number Ten. I'm very pleased I'm doing the Sunday newspaper review on NEws 24 this Saturday night! Hat tip for graphic to Beau Bo D'Or
Friday, June 02, 2006
Is Number Ten Trying to Force Prescott Out?
So what now for John Prescott? Alan Johnson has stoked the story up again by saying he'd like to be Deputy Leader when the time comes (sooner than you think, Alan). I detect strange things happening in Whitehall at the moment. I was tipped off about a rumour this morning that there will be a Prescott-related story in the Sunday newspapers. However, as I haven't been able to stand it up I won't go into any more details. But if indeed there is another story on Sunday it's difficult to see how Prescott could survive another media battering. There is now, I think, an inevitability about his departure from the Government - it's not a question of if, but when. Perhaps someone in one of the tabloids will make public the details of one of his numerous other affairs, which up to now they've not printed. But the real question is this. If he was forced to resign from the Cabinet, would he automatically resign as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party? I can see no rule which would force him to. There is a school of thought that it's in Gordon Brown's interest for him to stay in situ, as Brown wouldn't want someone like Alan Johnson to be able to build a power base from the Deputy Leadership. The same school of thought believes that the Ultras in Number Ten would be quite happy to throw Prezza over the side as he has now outlived his usefulness. Number Ten has developed such a bunker mentality that anything is possible. And let's face it, they've got form in this area. Desperate people do desperate things. There is a whiff of Berlin 1945 about Number Ten at the moment. So if indeed there is a Prescott story in the Sundays, you can rest assured that it emanated from Number Ten. I'm very pleased I'm doing the Sunday newspaper review on NEws 24 this Saturday night! Hat tip for graphic to Beau Bo D'Or
dear oh dear, things ain't looking so rosy for Prescott at the moment, are they?
ReplyDeleteintrigued to know what the story is - there have been a lot of non-denial denials (as Woodward & Bernstein woudl have put it) about his behaviour & Dorneywood has rather sadly eclipsed the more serious substance of the allegations.
What time is the newspaper review broadcast on N24? I'll try and watch it...
It's a sign of extraordinary arrogance (of both Prescott & this government) that he has clung onto his position (& been allowed the perks) in the face of the laughing stock & disgrace that he has become.
Many of the allegations aired read like some dismal office scene from the 60's or 70's, and if true would have got any other boss into deep hot water, ESPECIALLY in the civil service or public sector.
If it were only an affair then I would have no particular thoughts about one way or another - it happens day in, day out in the workplace across the country. (Well, save for one thing - the utter hypocracy of the man considering his proclamations on these things in the days of the 92-97 Tory government).
But, if all the previous allegations are true then this is something entirely different.
No wonder there has been a big swing against Labour amongst women. My wife voted in the locals this year - the first time in the 9 years that I have known her that she has had any interest in participating in the democratic process at all. What motivated her to vote - local environment, financial management, policing? No - her utter and complete disgust at Prescott.
The only person to ask who she would be supporting was from Labour. I felt rather sorry for him...
Can you imagine if the following was written about, say, a head teacher, a GP or a CEO. He’d have to go, wouldn’t he?
ReplyDeleteOn 30 April 2006, a former senior Labour aide Tricia McDaid was reported in the Sunday Times as accusing Prescott of being, in the paper's headline, "a serial groper" with a long record within the Labour Party of aggressive sexual behaviour:
The Sunday Times quoted Linda McDougall, wife of Austin Mitchell MP,
It was 1978, just after my husband had become an MP. I was 35. There was a memorial lecture for his predecessor, Anthony Crosland, and we were welcoming guests into our house. I opened the door to Prescott and showed him in. It was the first time I’d met him. As he came through the door, he pushed me quite forcefully against the wall and put his hand up my skirt.
Lord Birt, it was also reported in the media, had to write a letter of apology to Jaci Stephen, TV critic, after John Prescott had put his hand up her skirt at Birt's Christmas party a while back.
And then there are the "affairs" of which Trevor Kavanagh, former political editor of The Sun, told Radio 5 Live: "Learning that John Prescott's had an affair is a bit like learning that Simon Hughes is gay. I mean, everyone knew he has affairs. He's had a string of affairs throughout his life and this has come as no surprise.
And of course I haven’t mentioned Tracey Temple or the much-rumoured Winter Roses. Do you think there might be one or two other Prescott exes who are dreading being outed as such?
And by the way, I wonder if any of Prescott's male friends are now wondering if their own wives or daughters have ever been the subject of Prescott's attention.
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The commentariat keep saying that both Blair and Brown want to hang onto Prescott. I've been scratching my head & can't see why.
ReplyDeleteI can see why Blair would want him to stay on (unless this coming Sunday reveals more than even he can stomach!) because (1) he's the token Old Labour thing and (2) he would want to avoid a party election for Deputy Leader.
For the life of me I can't see how it's in Gordon Brown's interests to spend capital protecting Prescott. So a party election for Deputy Leader would destabilise Blair - and Brown's objection to this is what, exactly? Surely such a machine politician as Brown will fix it anyway so that his favoured candidate wins. And even if s/he didn't, would this make things any worse for Brown than they now are?
Iain - u r da guru - can you tell me why all newspaper columnists are of the opinion that TB and GB both want to hang onto Prezza?
My tuppence. Alan Johnson is not acting alone. There is a shadow(s), vague, in the wings. It is Blair's, maybe with Brown's tacit support. They both want him out for different reasons. Both have had their head in the sand but the festering contagion that is Prescott is entering the nostrils. Self preservation beckons and Prescott must go but not by direct bullet. A proxy catalyst is required. Enter Johnson.
ReplyDeleteI think I subscribe to Griswold's perspective here. Linda McDougall's recollections suggest an altogether seedier side to this story, and if there's more to come then he has to go.
ReplyDeleteI can fully understand why women would vote strongly against the Government when faced with such behaviour from within Labour's bedrock. The issue now for Blair / Brown is if the shit hits the fan, how much is going to land on them? Neither can afford to deal with questions about how much they knew or why did they tolerate such behaviour? The potential contamination is enormous.
This has the feel of a damage limitation exercise, and anyone who deals in such things knows that risks are assessed on both probability and scale of impact. This one may have a relatively low probability (let's wait and see what unfolds), but the impact is off the scale - so the risk has to be mitigated.
How does Prescott's behaviour towards women fit in with Blair's Respect Agenda? Can anyone explain?
ReplyDeleteRe the Deputy Leader of the party thing, I was quite surprised to be reminded that George Brown sat for quite a while in that role on the backbences after resigning in the sixties. However, I'm fairly sure Prezza would resign this job if sacked from the other. That's precisely why Blair does not want to sack him of course.
ReplyDeletewatch out for Reid in all this. He is a tough cookie and i wonder if he has realised that Johnson is the future rather than another Scot (reid) against Brown. Reid then becomes johnsons right hand man a role which he seems to fit natuarally
ReplyDelete