JOHN PRESCOTT’S civil servants and local government officials have described his department as unfocused, lacking leadership and comparable to a “pantomime horse”.

The scathing verdict on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) is revealed in a leaked Mori opinion poll of government officials and stakeholders. It depicts a department that is poorly managed, “out-gunned” by other departments and suffering from “re- organisation fatigue”.

The report has emerged as Prescott comes under increasing pressure to start paying council tax on his grace and favour government apartment in Admiralty House, London. The Sunday Times revealed last month that Prescott was not required to pay council tax out of his own pocket on any of his three homes.

Mori’s leaked analysis is a blow to Prescott’s credibility and will give new ammunition to opponents who argue that, at 67, it is time he stepped down.

His officials fear his “rambling” empire, which was behind the abortive attempt to set up regional assemblies and is leading controversial plans to build 1.1m homes in southern England, will be dismantled as soon as he leaves office.

Prescott suffered the humiliation of having to listen to the demolition of his record at a meeting about a year ago attended by his departmental ministers and senior officials.Witnesses said the room fell into an embarrassed silence.

Mori’s confidential poll reveals that civil servants feel the ODPM lacks a “clearly articulated vision and leadership”. They said the department was “schizophrenic” about whether or not to devolve greater powers to local authorities.

Senior local government managers, fire service officials and public sector workers in regional organisations were even more scathing. The department was criticised for not “punching its weight” and was described as a “pantomime horse” and a “patchwork quilt”.

Even in Labour’s northern heartlands Prescott has provoked concerted opposition because of his programme of demolishing thousands of Victorian homes.

Some Labour insiders believe Blair misjudged Prescott’s abilities and gave him too much responsibility. One former ministerial adviser said: “He is much better as a politician than a minister and his main role is as a go- between for Blair and Brown. He could still be the person who pulls the plug on Blair.”

A department spokesman said: “We commissioned the survey shortly after the department was set up. Since that time our stakeholders and civil servants have a much clearer understanding of the department’s role and its performance.”

Caroline Spelman, shadow secretary for the department, said Prescott was in danger of losing touch with voters by increasing council tax but not paying it himself on his government apartment.

An ODPM spokesman refused to comment on whether Prescott would start paying the tax.

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