Sir, If John Prescott’s political critics worked as hard as he does, instead of trying to get media coverage for their opinions of him, maybe they would have some cause for comment. So John Prescott had a game of croquet over the Bank Holiday weekend; he was still available to do his job while Tony Blair was abroad.

I cannot remember these small-minded people complaining about John Major watching cricket or Margaret Thatcher entertaining at Chequers while Prime Minister. Our political leaders are as entitled to time off as the rest of us. If critics had their way ministers would never have a day off or spend time with their families. And of course, all these MPs passing comment were hard at it dealing with their constituents’ problems over the Bank Holiday.

John Prescott’s ability to be Deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party is not diminished by what he does outside these duties.

TERENCE F. MATTHEWS
Hornchurch, Essex

Sir, The pictures of John Prescott playing croquet in the grounds of a country house given to him by the state would not seem incongruous to a Russian as it appears to us (report, May 29).

Peter the Great forced his officials to have second homes (dachas) by building them on plots of land given to them to consolidate the inner city of St Petersburg as a conurbation. The word dacha comes from the verb “to give”.

Croquet (“kroket”) was played by all levels of Russian society. It was also played by Soviet citizens after the Revolution and well into the 1930s and 20,000 copies of Chesnokov’s Description and Rules of the Game were printed in 1930. It exhorts that the player must never forget that he is just a member of a team: “If every player only ever thinks about getting his ball through the hoops and hitting the post, never thinking about his comrades, croquet will become pointless and boring”.

Carry on, Comrade Prescott!

SIMON BROWN
Stevington, Beds

Sir, I had always understood that the great houses given to the nation (Chequers, Chevening, Dorneywood) were intended to be used as places where the Prime Minister or Cabinet ministers would be able to conduct business away from the fevered atmosphere of Westminster, and to be establishments where their foreign opposite numbers could be suitably entertained. Clearly Chequers is so used.

To consider them a “perk” or bargaining chip for services with political aims seem far removed from the aims of the original donation.

ANNE BENT
Withersfield, Suffolk

Sir, Had it been David Cameron caught playing croquet on Thursday afternoon, would reports have discussed how wonderful it was that he was keeping his work-life balance in check in such an environmentally friendly way?

BEN POWELL
Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Sir, Mr Prescott should not resign from the Government — if only because Mr Blair seems to regard resignation from office as an eminent qualification for returning to it a few months later.

THOMAS TALLON
London SE3

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