John Prescott (DP/M)

I never did, or countenanced, in public life, a single act inconsistent with the strictest good faith; having never believed there was one code of morality for a public, and another for a private man.” ~Thomas Jefferson, 1809

In April 2006 details emerged that John Prescott the Deputy Prime Minister of Great Britain had been involved in an adulterous relationship with a junior civil servant who was employed as his diary secretary. This revelation dominated the British newspapers particularly when it emerged that Prescott had entertained his Mistress, Tracey Temple, at his official residence which was funded by the long suffering British taxpayer. Furthermore it was also alleged that Prescott had used his official vehicle to ferry his lover around London for illicit meetings.
Initially the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, tried to pass off these episodes as “private matters" but it became increasingly clear that that many constituents preparing to vote in local elections thought otherwise.

Indeed Labour councillors reported that the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister was consistently raised on the doorsteps during electioneering. Stephen Pound the Member of Parliament for Ealing North called for the Deputy Prime Minister to consider his position and said, "Prescott's behaviour has made a deep impression on voters in this constituency" (1) The Independent Newspaper (UK) also commented that Prescott had lost all credibility and had become "a laughing stock." The paper concluded that Prescott had lost his judgement and political awareness and expressed the opinion that the voters would find it difficult to trust a man "who could lie with such ease" (2)

The Government, already under investigation by Scotland Yard in connection with allegations that they were selling peerages to wealthy businessmen faced further embarrassment when a member of the British public, Alistair Watson, wrote to Scotland Yard. Mr. Watson a retired Police Inspector from Glasgow called for a police investigation to probe the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister. He pointed out that the allegations that Prescott had entertained his lover during working hours and had used both his publicly funded homes and vehicles during this deceit amounted to an offence of "misconduct in a public office."

Mr. Watson pointed out that a police officer from the Greater Manchester Police Force (UK) who had also been accused of having sexual intercourse with a woman whilst on duty had been convicted by the courts and ordered to carry out 200 hours community service. He said, "I think in the interest of equality of justice, there is no reason why Mr. Prescott and Miss Temple cannot be prosecuted, as the police officer was." (3) Mr. Watson went on to add that his complaint was not malicious but was driven by his belief that rules that apply to ordinary people should also apply to more senior people like Prescott. Julian Young a solicitor advocate and vice-president of the West London Law Society felt there was a case. He said, "My view is that a minister is in public office. If there is one law for police officers who hold a public office from the crown, then logically that should equally apply to ministers. Almost certainly it would apply to civil servants"

Scotland Yard confirmed that they had received a letter alleging misconduct in a public office but after some consideration Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates responded by saying," It is considered that the potential consequences in respect of the alleged behaviour, even if it was proved, would not be so serious as to call for a prosecution." He added, "A distinction has to be drawn between action that could potentially discredit an office holder and those actions that constitute criminality. Accordingly I have decided not to embark upon a criminal investigation as to do so would not be an appropriate use of police resources' (4)

To many, including Alistair Watson, this may well have been interpreted to suggest that the higher the profile, the more senior the position and the more responsibility held, the less likely the individual will be held to account. Despite this other members of the Labour Party including Geraldine Smith, Member of Parliament for Morecambe Bay, shared Mr. Watson's misgivings. Ms. Smith voiced her concerns by saying, "It's as old as Adam-the male employer taking advantage of the young employee. It looks pretty appalling- what someone does in his private life is one thing -it's between him, his mistress and his wife. But when it cuts across his public role and the whole country is talking about it then it makes it extremely difficult" (5)

Other Labour M.P's were equally disturbed and the Daily Telegraph reported that many Members were unhappy about Prescott's "predatory sexual behaviour" and described him as a "liability" that made him a "laughing stock" that had humiliated the Labour Party. (6) Voters also provided a clear indication that they were unhappy with the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister and the falling standards within the Labour Party. In the May 2006, local elections Labour lost two hundred and fifty councillors in a grim night for the Government.

In an attempt to steady the rocking ship Prime Minister Tony Blair used this event to reshuffle his cabinet and the spotlight fell upon John Prescott. To the surprise of many Prescott hung on to his role as Deputy Prime Minister but was stripped of his department. However, to the amazement of many voters, Prescott kept his 'grace and favour' apartment at Admiralty House in the capital and his official country residence in 'Dorneywood' Buckinghamshire.

Geraldine Smith again went on the offensive and told BBC's Radio 4 that Mr. Blair had sent out the wrong message by suggesting that Prescott was not fit to run his department, but was good enough to remain Deputy Prime Minister and to run the country when the Prime Minister was abroad. She said, "It is outrageous that the Deputy Prime Minister loses his department but keeps his position, his salary and the perks of his job." She added, "Most people are astonished by this reshuffle" (7)

Indeed in what other country would a man caught having sex with a subordinate in the office be allowed to keep his job, his salary, his expenses, his chauffeur-driven cars and free accommodation, while not actually being expected to do any work or having to pay tax on any of the perks? What sort of message does this send out and what are the wider consequences of his actions? Many may feel that the conduct of John Prescott served to undercut the efforts of millions of parents trying to instil positive values into their children.

Yet further revelations followed and the Independent newspaper reported that two former Labour Party employees who were named as Sarah Bissett- Scott and Trish Mcdaid also spoke of incidents of sexual harassment at the hands of the Deputy Prime Minister. (8) Ms. Bissett- Scott claimed she had a two-year affair with Prescott while Tricia Mcdaid described Prescott as a “serial groper” She added ‘He was a boastful, arrogant, nasty pig. He just jumped on you when he felt like it at a party. Several times I nearly slapped his face”. (9) Although Prescott denied these allegations and threatened to complain to the Press Complaints Commission he never did.

Even after these revelations the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, condoned this activity by throwing a protective arm around his old pal. Despite him engaging in sexual activity in the work place with a junior member of his own staff, despite him cheating upon his wife of forty-three years, despite him using his official residence to entertain his mistress, despite him using official cars to ferry Ms Temple around the Capital and despite him undermining the dignity of his high office a Downing Street insider said, “There was no question of judging him as this was a private issue. John has been very supportive and the Prime Minister was repaying that support” (10)

Others saw it differently, writing in “The Guardian” reporter Catherine Bennett said, “There is no reason to suppose he will lift up the skirt of Tessa Jowell or look down the front of Margaret Hodge or harass other senior women who do not appeal to him, or talk dirty to them at staff parties… That is something he only does to his juniors-in private.” (11)

Journalist, Ben Fenton, continued this theme and wrote an article in “The Telegraph” entitled “A Bully from a More Brutal Age”. He wrote, “His affairs are not with equals they are with subordinates. He never tries to put his hand up the skirt of a female political colleague, but always a junior, always someone beholden to his goodwill" Fenton continued, "Would it be unfair to suggest that for each woman who has accepted Mr. Prescott's boorish behaviour there must have been several who said no? (12)

With gross hypocrisy the luminaries of New Labour that most enlightened hammer of political correctness, chose to defend the lewd approaches of a late middle aged man to junior employees, when in many other walks of life he would most probably have been suspended. Furthermore it did not go unnoticed that a political colleague of the Deputy Prime Minister, Meg Munn, the Minister for Women and Equality, charged with overseeing new legislation to tackle sex discrimination and harassment in the Public Sector retained an embarrassed silence.

The Sunday Times then reported an astonishing attack upon Tony Blair by Sir Alistair Graham who had been appointed by the Prime Minister as a "sleaze watchdog". Sir Alistair made reference to the Prescott affair and said, "You cannot get a situation where a public figure is subject to such ridicule and scorn that their position becomes difficult" (13) He added, "Is there clear evidence that in pursuing "private matters" they have taken advantage of their public position? For if you involve a junior member of staff you increase that risk. There is a duty of care as far as any staff member is concerned" (14) Alistair Graham claimed, with great exasperation, that the Prime Minister "sees standards as a peripheral minor issue" but the a “Times Editorial” warned that “sleaze turns off voters and makes public figures objects of contempt”, which it proclaimed " is in nobody's interest" (15)

Tracey Temple later published a diary and revealed lurid details of her intimate relationship with Prescott. She claimed that Prescott had “exploited power for his own sexual gratification” and alleged that in 2003, the Deputy Prime Minister had taken her to St. Paul’s Cathedral for a State Memorial Service in honour of British servicemen killed in Iraq. She then claimed that immediately after the service Prescott took her to back to his government flat on Trafalgar Square where they had indulged in sexual activity. (16) Can there ever be a greater contrast between the honourable and the dishonourable?

To add to John Prescott’s tales of woe ITV then screened a comedy based on the affair called, “Confessions of a Diary Secretary” (17). This production was broadcast across the country and portrayed Prescott in a sexual farce that prompted Andrew Billen to write in the New Statesman “If Prescott’s reputation was capable of sinking any lower “confessions” would have holed it below the Plimsoll line” (18)

As the disgraced Deputy Prime Minister adopted a low profile his critics reminded him of a speech he delivered to a Labour Party Conference berating the Conservative Party for their lack of standards. Prescott had said,
"They are up to their necks in sleaze...After seventeen years of this Tory government they have the audacity to talk about morality. I'm told that some Tory M.P’s think ethics is a county near Middlesex. It's a bit hard to take John Major-ethics man. The Tories have redefined unemployment they have redefined poverty. Now they want to redefine morality. For too many Tories, morality means not getting caught. Morality is measured in more than just money. It's about right and wrong. We are a party of principle. We will earn the trust of the British people. We've had enough lies. Enough sleaze" (19) Fine words, Deputy Prime Minister, fine words indeed.

References

1. Pound, Stephen, Member of Parliament for Ealing North. 'Scandals leave Blair at Voters Mercy'. Quoted in the Daily Telegraph, 2 May 2006.

2. The Independent Newspaper (UK), dated 3 May 2006.

3. Allardyce, J and Calvert, J. 'Prescott Faces Police Probe Into Office Sex', The Sunday Times (UK) dated 7 May 2006.

4. Yates, J, BBC News (UK Edition) 'Police Rule out Prescott Enquiry' dated Wednesday 10 May 2006.

5. Smith Geraldine. Member of Parliament for
Morecambe Bay. Quoted in the Daily Mail (UK) Dated
Tuesday, 2nd May 2006.

6. The Daily Telegraph (UK) 'Scandals leave Blair at Voters' Mercy' dated Tuesday 2 May 2006.

7. Smith, Geraldine (MP). 'Outrage over Prescott's Deputy Role' reported in BBC News (UK Edition) dated Saturday 6 May 2006.

8. The Independent Newspaper, Monday 1 May 2006.

9. Kirkup, James. 'Vultures Circle as Pressure grows on Prescott' quoted in The Scotsman (UK) dated 1 May 2006.

10. The Independent (UK). 'Chaos: Secretary’s Confessions Increase Humiliation for Prescott and Reeling Labour' dated 30 April 2006. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/chaos-secretarys-confessions-increase-humiliation-for-prescott-and-reeling-labour-476214.html

11. Bennett, C. 'Misconduct is a Very Public Matter', The Guardian (UK) dated Thursday 4 May 4 2006.

12. Fenton, Ben. 'Prescott. A Bully from a More Brutal Age'. The Daily Telegraph (UK) dated Tuesday 2 May 2006.

13. Graham, Sir Alistair 'Watchdog Blasts Prime Minister Over Sleaze - Blair Made Error of Judgement'. The Sunday Times dated Sunday 21 May 2006.

14. Ibid.

15. The Sunday Times (UK) 'Editorial' dated 21 May 2006.

16. Temko, Nick and Hinsliff, Gabby. 'Prescott Exploited Me Says Tearful Ex Mistress'. Guardian Online dated Sunday 30 April 2006.

17. Independent Television. Confession of a Diary Secretary screened February 2007.
Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0939603/

18. Billen, Andrew. 'They’ve Never Had It So Good'. The New Statesman (UK) dated 5 March 2007.

19. Prescott, John. Address to Labour Party Conference in 1996. Re-quoted in 'Why John Prescott Should Resign' by Stephen Tall, Oxford City Councillor, Friday 7 July 2006.