JOHN PRESCOTT has moved to save his flagging political career by giving up the use of Dorneywood, the grace-and- favour country residence that he insisted on keeping despite losing his department in last month’s reshuffle.
The Deputy Prime Minister bowed to public and political fury over his retention of his lavish perks and said farewell to the Buckinghamshire estate where he was photographed last week, to his intense embarrassment, playing croquet.
After receiving strong advice from his closest friends that he needed to make a gesture to the public and the Labour Party, Mr Prescott telephoned Tony Blair yesterday morning and told him that he would do what Mr Blair asked him to do when he carried out his reshuffle — give up Dorneywood.
Last night he admitted he was wrong to hold on to the house after the reshuffle but added that he would not be pushed out of government. He claimed that he was Tony Blair’s “shield” being “battered” by the Prime Minister’s critics.
“A month ago I did not see why I should leave it,” he said. “It was for deputy prime ministers’ use; my wife and I enjoyed it. It was restful, a place where you couldn’t get bugged by photographers.
“I am well aware that my use of it is now a subject of public controversy and criticism and a matter of concern amongst some MPs and the Labour Party. I have accepted that my continued use of Dorneywood is getting in the way of doing my job in government.”
He still has the use of another grace-and-favour home at Admiralty House while he is in London. Labour MPs are expected to see Mr Prescott’s move as a way of trying to end the row surrounding him after revelations of his affair with his diary secretary.
Only a handful have called for his resignation, but the internal discontent about his behaviour is considerable. Even so, most Labour MPs believe that a deputy leadership election would be deeply damaging at a time when David Cameron has moved ahead in the polls.
Mr Prescott admitted last night that he had disappointed friends, family and colleagues.
“That really does concern me because my connection is always the party,” he said in an interview with The Guardian. “I want to earn back that, get out, do my job, get campaigning, deliver what I promised them. I can’t turn back the clock. You know I’m not a saint. I’m not a forever-sinner. And I don’t think either that I’m unique.”
When Mr Blair stripped him of the office of Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Prescott stood his ground and refused to agree to give up Dorneywood.
Mr Blair, preoccupied with a reshuffle that was becoming more difficult with every change, relented. But the pictures of Mr Prescott playing croquet on an “away day” at Dorneywood last week were the final straw.
Mr Prescott, who as recently as Tuesday was reluctant to give up Dorneywood because he believed that if his enemies forced him to give up one perk, they would not settle until they had forced him out of office, said last night he would not be able to relax in its grounds again after the publication of the croquet photographs.
After saying he had not taken charge of the country until two days after the pictures were taken last Thursday, he added that the croquet had been his staff’s idea.
“They say, ‘Can we play croquet?’ I can’t reply, ‘Sorry, you can’t play croquet, it’s against my ideological position.’
“I don’t know the rules. Isn’t it to put the ball through the hoop and beat the other bugger? It’s the imagery. It’s really just a competitive game like Monopoly.”
Labour MPs said that Mr Prescott’s move would almost certainly ease the pressure on him. Neither Mr Blair nor Gordon Brown want him to leave office.
His departure would probably create an election for the deputy leadership of the party earlier than either wants.
Mr Blair and Mr Brown want Mr Prescott to go when the Prime Minister stands down, and the Chancellor wants him to oversee the “smooth and orderly” transition of power that the two have been asked by Labour MPs to effect.
Mr Prescott has told friends in recent days that the Prime Minister has assured him they will go together. That means that any words he uses in the coming months about his own future will be taken as a pointer to Mr Blair’s, giving him a surprising amount of power in the final months of the Blair leadership, despite his severely weakened personal position.
MAN OF PROPERTY
Dorneywood Built in 1920s, surrounded by 215-acre estate owned by National Trust. Previously occupied by Chancellors of the Exchequer
Admiralty House Built in 18th century for First Lord of the Admiralty. Contains state rooms as well as three ministerial flats. In 2001 it was valued at £28,344,000
Hull Five-bedroom detached house with turrets in his constituency
South London Until he withdrew from a legal battle in November 2003, Mr Prescott rented a heavily subsidised flat in Maritime House, Clapham, from the RMT Union
OFFICIAL RESIDENCES
Tony Blair (Prime Minister) Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, the Prime Minister’s official country residence
Margaret Beckett (Foreign Secretary) has use of Chevening, a residence in Kent, traditionally occupied by Foreign Secretary
Peter Hain (Northern Ireland Secretary) lives in Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, when he is in the Province
Des Browne (Defence Secretary) and Jacqui Smith (Labour Chief Whip) are said to be in the running for two soon-to-be-vacant apartments in Admiralty House being vacated by Ms Beckett and Geoff Hoon (who lived there as Defence Secretary and Leader of the Commons)
