John Prescott: Difference between revisions
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'''John Leslie Prescott''' (born 31 May 1938) is a [[ |
'''John Leslie Prescott''' (born 31 May 1938) is a [[British]] former [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[First Secretary of State]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. He represented [[Kingston upon Hull East (UK Parliament constituency)|Hull East]] as the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament]] between [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970]] and [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010]], when he stood down from [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. In the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994|1994 leadership election]] he campaigned for both Leader and [[Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]], winning election to the latter office. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister after Labour's victory in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 election]], with an expanded brief as [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]. |
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A former ship's [[steward]] and [[trade union]] activist, by the 1980s he was presented as the political link to the working class in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, middle class professionals. In his youth, Prescott managed to overcome the handicap of failing his [[grammar school]] entrance [[Eleven plus exam|Eleven Plus examination]], to graduate from [[Ruskin College]] in Oxford. Prescott also developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often tense relationship between the two other senior figures in government, then-Chancellor [[Gordon Brown]] and then-Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. |
A former ship's [[steward]] and [[trade union]] activist, by the 1980s he was presented as the political link to the working class in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, middle class professionals. In his youth, Prescott managed to overcome the handicap of failing his [[grammar school]] entrance [[Eleven plus exam|Eleven Plus examination]], to graduate from [[Ruskin College]] in Oxford. Prescott also developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often tense relationship between the two other senior figures in government, then-Chancellor [[Gordon Brown]] and then-Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]]. |
Revision as of 09:19, 8 July 2010
John Prescott | |
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First Secretary of State | |
In office 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Vacant last held by Michael Heseltine on 2 May 1997 |
Succeeded by | Vacant next held by The Lord Mandelson on 5 June 2009 |
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |
In office 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Michael Heseltine |
Succeeded by | Vacant next held by Nick Clegg on 11 May 2010 |
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | |
In office 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | John Gummer (Environment) George Young (Transport) |
Succeeded by | Margaret Beckett (EFRA) Stephen Byers (TLGR) |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 21 July 1994 – 24 June 2007 | |
Leader | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Margaret Beckett |
Succeeded by | Harriet Harman |
Member of Parliament for Hull East | |
In office 18 June 1970 – 6 May 2010 | |
Preceded by | Harry Pursey |
Succeeded by | Karl Turner (Kingston upon Hull East) |
Majority | 11,747 (37.7%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Prestatyn, United Kingdom | 31 May 1938
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Pauline Prescott |
Children | 2 sons |
Alma mater | Ruskin College University of Hull |
John Leslie Prescott (born 31 May 1938) is a British former Deputy Prime Minister and First Secretary of State of the United Kingdom. He represented Hull East as the Labour Member of Parliament between 1970 and 2010, when he stood down from Parliament. In the 1994 leadership election he campaigned for both Leader and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, winning election to the latter office. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister after Labour's victory in the 1997 election, with an expanded brief as Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.
A former ship's steward and trade union activist, by the 1980s he was presented as the political link to the working class in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, middle class professionals. In his youth, Prescott managed to overcome the handicap of failing his grammar school entrance Eleven Plus examination, to graduate from Ruskin College in Oxford. Prescott also developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often tense relationship between the two other senior figures in government, then-Chancellor Gordon Brown and then-Prime Minister Tony Blair.
On 27 June 2007, he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, to coincide with the resignation of Tony Blair. Following an election within the Labour Party, he was replaced as Deputy Leader by Harriet Harman.
Early life
The son of a railway signalman and Labour councillor, and grandson of a miner, Prescott was born in Prestatyn (now in Denbighshire), Wales. In 2009, he said: "I’ve always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh...I was born in Wales, went to school in Wales and my mother was Welsh. I’m Welsh. It’s my place of birth, my country."[1] He left Wales in 1942 at the age of four and was brought up initially in Brinsworth in South Yorkshire, England. He attended Brinsworth Primary School (known then as Brinsworth Manor School), where he sat but failed the Eleven Plus examination in 1949. Shortly after, his family moved to Upton, Cheshire and he went to school in nearby Ellesmere Port, where he attended Grange Secondary Modern School.[2] He became a steward and waiter in the Merchant Navy, thus avoiding National Service, working for Cunard, and was a popular left-wing union activist. Prescott's time in the Merchant Marine included a cruise from England to New Zealand in 1957.[3][4] Among the passengers was Sir Anthony Eden, recuperating after his resignation over the Suez Crisis. Prescott reportedly described Eden as a "real gentleman". Apart from serving Eden, who stayed in his cabin much of the time, Prescott also won several boxing contests, at which Eden presented the prizes.[4] He married Pauline 'Tilly' Tilston at Upton Church in Chester on 11 November 1961.[5] He then went to the independent Ruskin College in Oxford, which specialises in courses for union officials, where he gained a diploma in economics and politics in 1965. In 1968, he obtained a BSc in economics and economic history at the University of Hull.
Member of Parliament
He returned to the National Union of Seamen as a full-time official before being elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Hull East in 1970, succeeding Commander Harry Pursey, the retiring Labour MP. The defeated Conservative challenger was Norman Lamont. Previously, he had attempted to become MP for Southport in 1966, but came in second place, approximately 11,200 votes behind the Conservative candidate. From 1974 to 1979, he concurrently served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Leader of the Labour Group, when its members were nominated by the national Parliaments.
Prescott held various posts in Labour's Shadow Cabinet, but his career was secured by an impassioned closing speech in the debate at the Labour Party Conference in 1993 on the introduction of "one member, one vote" for the selection and reselection of Labour Parliamentary candidates that helped swing the vote in favour of this reform. In 1994, following the death of John Smith, Prescott became deputy leader of the party in a leadership vote. He stood for the position of both leader and deputy leader, losing to Tony Blair in the former contest.
Deputy Prime Minister
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/JPrescott.jpg/175px-JPrescott.jpg)
With the election of a Labour Government in 1997, Prescott was made Deputy Prime Minister and given a very large portfolio as the head of the newly created Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions. In July 2001, an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created to administer the many areas under his responsibility.[6] This new office was originally part of the Cabinet Office, but became a department in its own right in May 2002, when it absorbed some of the responsibilities from the now-abolished Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
In the United Kingdom, the title of Deputy Prime Minister is used only occasionally, and confers no constitutional powers (in which it is similar to the pre-20th century usage of Prime Minister). The Deputy Prime Minister stands in when the Prime Minister is unavailable, most visibly at Prime Minister's Questions, and Prescott has attended various Heads of Government meetings on behalf of Tony Blair.[7]
Since the position of Deputy Prime Minister draws no salary, Prescott's remuneration was based on his position as Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions until 2001. This "super department" was broken up, with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport established as separate entities. Prescott was given the largely honorific title of First Secretary of State, whilst continuing to head smaller department of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, with responsibility for local and regional government, housing, communities and the fire service.
Environment
The UK played a major role in the successful negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and Prescott led the UK delegation at the discussions.[8][9]
In May 2006, in recognition of his work in delivering the Kyoto Treaty, Tony Blair asked Prescott to work with the Foreign Secretary and the Environment Secretary on developing the Government's post-Kyoto agenda.[10]
Transport
Integrated transport policy
On coming to office, Prescott pursued an integrated public transport policy. On 6 June 1997, he said: "I will have failed if in five years time there are not...far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it."[11] However, by June 2002, car traffic was up by 7%. This prompted Friends of the Earth’s Tony Bosworth to say "By its own test, Government transport policy has failed".[12]
Prescott had success in focusing attention on the role of car usage in the bigger environmental picture and the need for effective public transport alternatives if car volume is to be reduced. The subsequent debate on road pricing evolved from his policy. A contrast was highlighted between Prescott's transport brief and an incident, in 1999, when an official chauffeur-driven car was used to transport Prescott and his wife 250 yards (230 m) from their hotel to the venue of the Labour Party Conference, where Prescott gave a speech on how to encourage the use of public transport. Prescott explained, "Because of the security reasons for one thing and second, my wife doesn't like to have her hair blown about. Have you got another silly question?"[13] Prescott was fined for speeding in July 1988, March 1989, January 1991 and January 1997. The last conviction related to an offence on 28 December 1996, when he was found to be driving at 80 mph on the M62 at a time when police recommended a 30 mile per hour limit due to ice; he was fined £40 and given three penalty points on his driving licence.[14][15]
Rail regulation
Prescott had a stormy relationship with the privatisation of the railway industry. He had vigorously opposed the privatisation of the industry while the Labour Party was in opposition, and disliked the party's policy, established in 1996 just before the flotation of Railtrack on the London Stock Exchange, of committing to renationalise the industry only when resources allowed, which he saw as meaning that it would never be done. Reluctantly, he supported the alternative policy, produced by then shadow transport secretary Clare Short, that the industry should be subjected to closer regulation by the to-be-created Strategic Rail Authority (in the case of the passenger train operators) and the Rail Regulator (in the case of the monopoly and dominant elements in the industry, principally Railtrack). The policy was spelled out in some detail in the Labour Party's statement in the June 1996 prospectus for the sale of Railtrack shares, and was widely regarded as having depressed the price of the shares.
In 1998, Prescott was criticised by investors in the railway for his statement - at the Labour Party conference that year - that the privatised railway was a "national disgrace". The companies felt that they had had some considerable successes in cutting costs and generating new revenues in the short time since their transfer to private sector hands, and that the criticisms were premature and unfair.[citation needed]
In that speech, Prescott also announced that he would be taking a far tougher line with the companies, and to that end he would be having a "spring clean of the regulators".[This quote needs a citation] This meant that the incumbent Director of Passenger Rail Franchising - John O'Brien - and the Rail Regulator John Swift QC - both appointed by the previous Conservative government, would have to make way for new Labour appointees. In February 1999, the regulation of the passenger rail operators fell to Sir Alastair Morton,[16] who Prescott announced would be appointed as chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, which would take over from the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising whose office would be wound up. In July 1999, the new Rail Regulator appointed by Prescott was Tom Winsor.[16] They shared Prescott's view that the railway industry needed a considerable shake-up in its institutional, operational, engineering and economic matrix to attract and retain private investment and enable the companies within it to become strong, competent and successful.
Local and regional government
Responsible for local government, Prescott introduced a new system guiding members' conduct after 2001. The new system included a nationally agreed Code of Conduct laid down by Statutory Instrument which all local authorities were required to adopt; the Code of Conduct gives guidance on when councillors have an interest in a matter under discussion and when that interest is prejudicial so that the councillor may not speak or vote on the matter. Although on many areas councillors had previously been expected to withdraw where they had declared an interest, the new system made the system more formal and introduced specific sanctions for breaches; it was criticised for preventing councillors from representing the views of their local communities.[17]
Prescott supported regional government in England. Early in his term, he introduced regional assemblies (consisting of delegates from local authorities and other regional stakeholders) to oversee the work of new Regional Development Agencies in the regions of England. Following Labour's second election victory, he pressed for the introduction of elected regional assemblies, which would have seen about between 25 – 35 members elected under a similar electoral system to that used for the London Assembly. However, due to opposition, the government was forced to hold regional referendums on the change. The first three were intended to be in the North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and Humberside. The North-East referendum in November 2004 was first (where support was felt to be strongest) but resulted in an overwhelming vote of 78% against. As a consequence, the plan for elected regional assemblies was shelved.
Housing
A rising number of households (especially in the south-east) was putting added pressure on housing during Prescott's tenure as the minister responsible. An increase in the housebuilding was proposed, primarily on brownfield sites, but also on some undeveloped greenfield areas and as a result he was accused of undermining the Green Belt.[citation needed] The quote "The green belt is a Labour achievement; and we intend to build upon it" is attributed to Prescott.[18]
In the north of England, Prescott approved the demolition of some 200,000 homes that were judged to be in "failing areas" as part of his Pathfinder regeneration scheme. It has been argued that renovating properties, rather than demolishing them, would have made better financial and community sense.[19]
Opposition to education reforms
On 17 December 2005, Prescott made public his disapproval of Tony Blair's plans to give state schools the right to govern their finances and admission policies and to increase the number of city academies. It was the first policy stance that Prescott had made against Blair since his election as leader in 1994. Prescott said that the move would create a two-tier educational system that would discriminate against the working class.[20] He added that Labour were "always better fighting class".[21]
Links with the grass roots
Prescott, sometimes described as "an old-school unionist", kept in touch with the views of the traditional Labour voters throughout his career. He became an important figure in Tony Blair's "New Labour" movement, as the representative of 'old Labour' interests in the Shadow Cabinet and subsequently around the Cabinet table as Deputy Prime Minister.
However, now a member of the establishment, relationships with the grass roots were not always smooth. Whilst attending the BRIT Awards in 1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon poured a jug of iced water over Prescott, saying, "This is for the Liverpool Dockers".[22][23] (Dock workers in Liverpool had been involved in a two-year industrial dispute: a strike that had turned into a lockout, until a few weeks earlier.) A reporter from the Daily Mirror threw water over Nobacon the following day.[24]
Abolition of department
In a Cabinet reshuffle on 5 May 2006, Prescott's departmental responsibilities were transferred to Ruth Kelly, as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, following revelations about his private life and a poor performance by Labour in that year's local elections. He remained as Deputy Prime Minister, with a seat in the Cabinet, and was given a role as a special envoy to the Far East as well as additional responsibilities chairing cabinet committees.[25][26] Despite having lost almost all his policy responsibilities it was announced that he would retain his full salary (£134,000pa) and pension entitlements, along with both his grace-and-favour homes, which received criticism.[27]
The press speculated in July 2006 that, as a consequence of the continuing problems centred on Prescott, Blair was preparing to replace him as Deputy Prime Minister with David Miliband, whilst possibly retaining Prescott as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party,[28] but nothing came of this.
Announcement of retirement
On 28 September, at the 2006 Labour Party Conference in Manchester, John Prescott apologised in his speech for the bad press he had caused for the party during the previous year. He said: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So Conference, I just want to say sorry." He confirmed that he would stand down as Deputy Leader when Tony Blair left Downing Street.[29] On 30 January 2007, he announced in the House of Commons that "I'm in a rather happy demob stage", in a combative performance.[30]
Within 30 minutes of Tony Blair announcing the date of his resignation on 10 May 2007, Prescott announced his resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. During the subsequent special Labour Party Conference, at which Gordon Brown was elected Leader and Harriet Harman succeeded Prescott as Deputy Leader, Prescott received a prolonged standing ovation from the members present, in recognition of his many years of service to the party.
Life after government
Following his resignation, it was announced that he would take over from Tony Lloyd as the lead UK Representative in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The post is unpaid, but has an expenses allowance and allows him to sit on the Assembly of Western European Union. In a jocular response to the appointment, Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois wished the translators good luck.[31]
On 27 August 2007, Prescott stated that he would stand down as an MP at the next general election, after which he was offered a Peerage. He has also engaged in the campaign against slave labour, which he intends to make a key issue in his work at the Council.[32][33] Prescott is a director of Super League rugby league club Hull Kingston Rovers, who are based in his former constituency of Hull East.[34]
His autobiography, Prezza, My Story: Pulling no Punches[35] ghostwritten by Hunter Davies,[36] was published on 29 May 2008.
In June 2008, he made a cameo appearance, playing a policeman, in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Robert Tressell's The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists. In 2009, he made a brief cameo appearance as himself in the final episode of the BBC Three comedy series Gavin and Stacey (this referred to a running joke in the show regarding a relationship the character Nessa had years ago with Prescott.)
In October and November 2008 he was the subject of a two-part documentary, "Prescott: the Class System and Me", on BBC Two, looking at the class system in Britain, and asking whether it still exists.[37]
Prescott was publicly very supportive of Gordon Brown, and has called him a "global giant".[38]
It was announced on 28 May 2010 that Prescott was to be awarded a life peerage.[39]
Health concerns
Prescott was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990,[40] although this was not publicly disclosed until 2002.[41] On 2 June 2007 he was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on a train from his constituency in Hull to London King's Cross.[42] He was later diagnosed with pneumonia and was treated at University College Hospital, London. He was moved to a high-dependency ward on 5 June 2007 so he could be monitored more closely because of his age and the fact he suffers from diabetes.[43] On 6 June 2007 it was reported in the media that his condition was stable and that he was sitting up and "joking" with hospital staff.[44] He was subsequently released from hospital on 10 June 2007 to continue his recovery at home.[45]
In April 2008, Prescott announced he has the eating disorder bulimia nervosa, which he believed was brought on by stress since the 1980s.[46]
Criticism and controversies
Prescott has been involved in a number of controversies and incidents that have caused public concern and widespread media interest. During the 2001 election campaign, Prescott was campaigning in Rhyl when farmer Craig Evans threw an egg at him, which struck him in the neck. Prescott, a former amateur boxer, responded immediately with a straight left to the jaw.[47][48][49] The incident, overshadowing the launch of the Labour Party manifesto on that day, was captured by numerous television crews. Tony Blair responded succinctly, stating, "John is John".[50] However, a National Opinion Polls (NOP) survey found that the incident appeared to do no public harm to Prescott, and may even have benefited his standing amongst male voters.[51]
In 2003, Prescott gave up a grace and favour home that he had rented from the RMT Union in Clapham, despite leaving the union in June 2002. Prescott paid £220 a month for the property — a fifth of its market value.[52] Though he had not declared the flat in the register of members' interests, he was subsequently exonerated by MPs who overruled Elizabeth Filkin, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.[53] On 12 January 2006, Prescott apologised after it was revealed that the council tax for the government flat he occupied at Admiralty House was paid for using public money, rather than his private income. He repaid the amount, which came to £3,830.52 over nearly nine years.[54]
There have been additional controversies over sexual infidelities and harassment allegations.[55] On 26 April 2006, Prescott admitted to having had an affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, between 2002 and 2004.[56] The Mail on Sunday broke the news with extracts from Temple's memoirs. These included a range of salacious allegations that were subject to extensive media comment.[57][58][59] This two-year affair is said to have commenced after an office party and, in part, took place during meetings at Mr Prescott's grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall. Conservative MP Andrew Robathan tabled questions in the House of Commons over John Prescott's reported entertainment of Ms Temple at Dorneywood, his official residence, which raised questions over the possible misuse of public finances.[60] Trevor Kavanagh, former political editor of The Sun, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Learning that John Prescott's had an affair is a bit like learning that Simon Hughes is gay. I mean, everyone knows he had an affair. He's had a string of affairs throughout his life and this has come as no surprise."[61] On 7 May 2006, The Sunday Times quoted Linda McDougall, wife of Austin Mitchell, as saying that in 1978 Prescott had put his hand up her skirt as he came through the door to a meeting - Mr Prescott had not met McDougall before. On 30 July 2006, it was revealed that Tricia McDaid had filed suit for sexual harassment.[62]
He was criticised for maintaining the benefits of Deputy Prime Minister despite losing his department in 2006. He was also attacked for visiting the American billionaire Phil Anschutz, who was bidding for the government licence to build a super casino in the UK, and questioned over his involvement in the business of his son Johnathan Prescott.
He gained a reputation in the British press for confused speech, mangled syntax and poor grammar.[63] The Guardian columnist Simon Hoggart once commented: "Every time Prescott opens his mouth, it's like someone has flipped open his head and stuck in an egg whisk."[64] An oft-quoted but unverified story in Jeremy Paxman's The Political Animal is that, before being accepted as transcribers to the Parliamentary record the Hansard, applicants must listen to one of Prescott's speeches and write down what they think he was trying to say.
The media have attached various sobriquets to John Prescott during his political career. Originally, Prescott's nickname was simply "Prezza",[65] but as various misfortunes befell Prescott the soubriquets became more colourful leading to "Two Jags"[66] (Prescott owns one Jaguar, and had the use of another as his official ministerial car). Later versions of this term are "Two Jabs"[67] (following his retaliation against a protester farmer in 2001); "Two Shags"[68] (in reference to his affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple); and "Two Shacks"[69] (referring to his former country house). The Independent later referred to Prescott as "No Jobs"[70] when he lost his department in a cabinet reshuffle following exposure of his affair, despite keeping the benefits and residences associated with his title, which became a sinecure.
On 8 May 2009, The Daily Telegraph began publishing leaked details of MPs' expenses. The Telegraph reported that Prescott have claimed £312 for fitting mock Tudor beams to his constituency home, and for two new toilet seats in as many years. Prescott has not responded to any of the claims.[71]
Ancestry and family
In 2009 Prescott participated in a BBC Wales programme Coming Home in which he researched his family tree. During the filming of the programme it was discovered that his great great great grandfather, Thomas Parrish, was the most likely father of his daughter's first four children. Athaliah Parrish, Prescott's great great grandmother, later married William Jones and had a further six children.[72] During the programme Prescott reaffirmed his feelings for his country, saying "I’ve always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh. People are a bit surprised when I say I’m Welsh. I was born in Wales, went to school in Wales and my mother was Welsh. I’m Welsh. It’s my place of birth, my country."[1]
Prescott and Pauline Tilston married in 1961. They have two sons. Their younger son, David Prescott, is active in Labour party politics and sought, but failed, to be selected for his father's parliamentary seat in Hull.[73]
Bibliography
- Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott by Simon Hoggart (Pocket Books, 2003) ISBN 0-7434-8397-9
- Fighting Talk: Biography of John Prescott by Colin Brown (Simon & Schuster, 1997) ISBN 0-684-81798-5
- Prezza: My Story: Pulling No Punches by John Prescott (Headline, 2008) ISBN 978-0-755-31775-2
See also
References
- ^ a b "WalesOnline - News - Wales News - John Prescott learns of incest among his Welsh ancestors". WalesOnline website. Media Wales Ltd. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ "My love letter was sent back, spelling corrected". The Times. London. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 25 May 2008.
- ^ "Prescott at Your Service". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 4 February 2007.
- ^ a b Grimley, Naomi (25 January 2007). "When Prescott served Eden". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ "Pauline Prescott: Wounded party". The Independent.
{{cite web}}
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requires|url=
(help); Missing or empty|url=
(help); Text "http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/pauline-prescott-wounded-party-476073.html" ignored (help) - ^ "The office of Deputy Prime Minister" (PDF). House of Commons. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
- ^ "Bilateral Meeting Of The Prime Minister Of The Republic Of Poland With The Deputy Prime Minister Of Great Britain". The Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Poland). Retrieved 9 June 2006.
- ^ Paul Brown (1 June 2002). "Hopes for Kyoto rise after Japan and EU ratify treaty". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Stephen Habberley (1 June 2006). "Prescott's highs and lows". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "John Leslie Prescott". 10 Downing Street. Retrieved 13 January 2006.
- ^ "ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS, RELATING TO TRANSPORT The Secretary of State was asked". Hansard. 20 October 1998.
- ^ "Friends of the Earth - Transport policy fails the Prescott test". Foe.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott walks it like he talks it", BBC, 30 September 1999
- ^ "80mph Prescott fined", Sunday Times, 5 January 1997, p. 2
- ^ Guy Patrick, "Cops nick speeding Prescott", News of the World, 5 January 1997, p. 9
- ^ a b Sir Alastair Morton left office, early, in October 2001. Tom Winsor continued until the end of his five-year term in July 2004.
- ^ Christopher Booker (26 February 2006). "Christopher Booker's notebook". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Planning". Hansard. 3 February 1999 : Column 996.
{{cite news}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help) - ^ Charles Clover (16 May 2005). "Has John Prescott got his sums right?". Daily Telegraph. London.
- ^ Francis Elliot (17 December 2005). "Prescott hits out over 'great danger' from Blair's school reforms". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Patrick Hennessy and Melissa Kite (19 December 2005). "Class war: Prescott attacks Blair's education reforms and Cameron's 'Eton Mafia'". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Soaked Prescott Rages At Pop Band". Evening Standard. 10 February 1998.
- ^ "Brits to go live again". The Sun.
- ^ "Four claret gold! Burnley's soccer-mad pop anarchists who fly first-class". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 3 June 1998.
- ^ Isabel Oakeshott (7 May 2006). "Prescott the predator keeps his spoils". Sunday Times. London.
- ^ "UK | UK Politics | Blair outlines new Prescott role". BBC News. 17 May 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Antony Barnett. "Prescott pension pot to be £1.5m | Politics | The Observer". Guardian. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Cracknell, David; UngoedThomas, Jon (9 July 2006). "No. 10 lines up Miliband for Prescott job". Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News. 28 September 2006.
- ^ "I'm 'demob happy', says Prescott". BBC News. 31 January 2007.
- ^ "Prescott in Council of Europe job". BBC News. 4 July 2007.
- ^ Brown, Colin (23 August 2007). "Prescott to stand down at election and focus on Council of Europe role". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "John Prescott to stand down as MP". BBC. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
- ^ "Prescott handed role at Hull KR". BBC. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
- ^ Headline: ISBN 9780755317752.
- ^ The Bookseller: "Have they got books for you".
- ^ Hanks, Robert (28 October 2008). "Last Night's Television - Prescott: The Class System and Me, BBC2". London. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
{{cite news}}
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ignored (help) - ^ "Prescott: Brown is 'global giant'". BBC News. 21 September 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Dissolution honours: John Prescott made a peer". BBC News. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "How could a big man like John Prescott have a girls illness". The Times. London. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott has diabetes". BBC News. 19 May 2002. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott admitted into hospital". BBC News Online. BBC. 5 June 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott suffering from pneumonia". BBC News Online. BBC. 5 June 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott's sixth day in hospital". BBC News Online. BBC. 7 June 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ Woodward, Will (11 June 2007). "Prescott released from hospital". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott tells of bulimia battle". BBC News. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
- ^ "Egg Head". bofunk.com. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
- ^ "Prescott sees red". BBC News. 17 May 2001.
- ^ "Prescott 'regrets' blow". BBC News. 17 May 2001.
- ^ "In Pictures: John Prescott". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "NOP poll and Sunday Times analysis". UKPOL. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
- ^ Malvern, Jack (21 January 2004). "Heroes of the Empire fight to stay rent-free". The Times. London. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Hencke, David (18 May 2000). "Watchdog overruled. MPs back Prescott over flat rented from union". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Prescott apologises over tax bill". BBC News. 12 January 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Ben Fenton (2 May 2006). "Prescott, a bully from a more brutal age". Daily Telegraph. London.
- ^ "Prescott admits affair with aide". BBC. 28 April 2006.
- ^ Simon Walters (30 April 2006). "We made love in John's office". Mail on Sunday.
- ^ Dominic Turnbull (7 May 2006). "Prescott ogled secretary from day he began job". Mail on Sunday.
- ^ "Two Shags has two inches". The Sun. April 2006.
- ^ "Standards question over Prescott". BBC. 27 April 2006.
- ^ Benedict Brogan, Michael Seamark, Gordon Rayner (27 April 2006). "Ministers humiliated on black day for Blair". Daily Mail.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Ulster journo sues Prescott for sexual harassment". Belfast Telegraph. 30 July 2006.
- ^ "FactCheck: Prezza pulls his punches?". Channel 4 News. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "John Prescott: An Upstanding Member of UK PLC". The Friday Project. 28 April 2006.
- ^ "Prezza's big gamble on Dome billionaire". The Times. London. 9 July 2006.
- ^ "'Two Jags' Prescott in parking row". The BBC. 27 July 2001.
- ^ "Prescott punches protester". BBC News. 16 May 2001.
- ^ "Two Shags has two inches". The Sun. 2006.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|month=
ignored (help) - ^ "'Two Shacks' Prescott". The Guardian. London. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Adams, Guy (24 May 2006). "Another sacked minister holds on to his residence". The Independent. London. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Beckford, Martin (8 May 2009). "Daily Telegraph: John Prescott". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 May 2009.
- ^ "Prescott sheds tears for ancestor". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ "Son loses bid for Prescott's seat". BBC News. 17 March 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- prezza.labourhome.org – Prescott's political blog
- Twitter page
- Template:Wayback – profile at 10 Downing Street website
- BBC Profile
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: John Prescott MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - John Prescott MP
- Mr Prescott and his gaffes
- Prescott admitted to hospital
- Prescott 'sitting up and joking'
- Open Directory Project — John Prescott directory category
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by John Prescott
- 1938 births
- Alumni of Ruskin College
- Alumni of the University of Hull
- British sailors
- Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom
- First Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom
- Labour MPs (UK)
- Living people
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- People from Kingston upon Hull
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- Politics of the East Riding of Yorkshire
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