Prescott Spins for Survival
The media is full of New Labour politicians pretending not to be in a flap today. Top of the form is John Prescott who, in the Independent, takes the defensive on 3 fronts; about his dalliances; about retaining the trappings of Senior Office without retaining responsibility; and about the state of New Labour.
I am not convinced he does a good job on any front. With regard to his personal behaviour he seems to hint that it is not just the affair, but his behaviour to others in general that is the problem:
"You could say that it's certainly been a period of reflection and to analyse how I have acted."
Nor in the published article does it, at any time, suggest he only had one affair (to be fair, nor does it say he had more than one). In guarding his grace and favour properties, he just takes a cheap and disgraceful shot at Michael Heseltine without providing any substance. It seems to me that Michael Heseltine, who is working for the Conservatives on inner city renewal at the moment, is doing more to justify a grace and favour property than John Prescott.
His stance on the Labour Party seems to be to suggest that Tony Blair, despite massive disillusionment around the Country, should be allowed to wait until Party Conference to tell us when he is going. 6 more months of this?
The question is, how much impact will Mr Precott's comments have on the Labour Party. Judging by the comments of Geraldine Smith MP on Sky this morning, none whatsoever:
"A period of silence from the deputy PM may not be a bad thing."
She has a point, John Prescott is one of the reasons that New Labour are in such a hole at the moment, although I would argue that it is more than just about recent weeks, rather the results of more than 9 years of spin coming home to roost.
One final point, the Labour Party is showing a total lack of "real" strength from anyone under Tony Blair. The Conservatives have always had someone with the strength to do what needs to be done, even before they have reached critical points similar to the one Labour have reached. It may not have always worked, but at least there have been people with the strength to do it. People expect MPs and political leaders to grasp the mettle at points like this, New Labour are failing. I am sure that is part of the reason for the showing in the Times/Populus poll today.
I am not convinced he does a good job on any front. With regard to his personal behaviour he seems to hint that it is not just the affair, but his behaviour to others in general that is the problem:
"You could say that it's certainly been a period of reflection and to analyse how I have acted."
Nor in the published article does it, at any time, suggest he only had one affair (to be fair, nor does it say he had more than one). In guarding his grace and favour properties, he just takes a cheap and disgraceful shot at Michael Heseltine without providing any substance. It seems to me that Michael Heseltine, who is working for the Conservatives on inner city renewal at the moment, is doing more to justify a grace and favour property than John Prescott.
His stance on the Labour Party seems to be to suggest that Tony Blair, despite massive disillusionment around the Country, should be allowed to wait until Party Conference to tell us when he is going. 6 more months of this?
The question is, how much impact will Mr Precott's comments have on the Labour Party. Judging by the comments of Geraldine Smith MP on Sky this morning, none whatsoever:
"A period of silence from the deputy PM may not be a bad thing."
She has a point, John Prescott is one of the reasons that New Labour are in such a hole at the moment, although I would argue that it is more than just about recent weeks, rather the results of more than 9 years of spin coming home to roost.
One final point, the Labour Party is showing a total lack of "real" strength from anyone under Tony Blair. The Conservatives have always had someone with the strength to do what needs to be done, even before they have reached critical points similar to the one Labour have reached. It may not have always worked, but at least there have been people with the strength to do it. People expect MPs and political leaders to grasp the mettle at points like this, New Labour are failing. I am sure that is part of the reason for the showing in the Times/Populus poll today.
posted by Martin Curtis at 7:24 AM
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