Prescott puts diplomacy on the long finger

John Prescott, the man who nominally keeps his hand on the tiller of Great Britain plc when Tony Blair is out of the country, raised a hand – and two fingers – in salute of the press pack outside Downing Street yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Prescott – formerly nicknamed Two Jags (for his appreciation of luxury cars) and latterly Two Jabs (for lashing out at an egg thrower) – has now been dubbed 'Two Fingers' after he angrily offered the V sign to journalists and photographers.

The press pack was gathering outside Number 10 as Cabinet ministers arrived for their last full meeting before Chancellor Gordon Brown makes the widely anticipated 'not yet' euro announcement on Monday.

But when the press corps called for comment, Mr Prescott turned on his heel and as he entered the door of Number 10 flipped a V sign behind his back. And so made front-page news in the process.

The straight-talking John Prescott has had an uneasy relationship with the press in the past. The Hull MP's idiosyncratic turn of phrase earned him the title of public figure most likely to mangle the English language in a Harper Collins survey of 100 writers and broadcasters.

Mr Prescott once referred to "the sceptre of unemployment stalking the north east", and promised to "build on" the government's creation of more green belts.

The deputy prime minister gained notoriety in 1999 for taking his ministerial Jaguar 200 yards from the front door his hotel to the Labour Party Conference because "the wife" didn't want to mess up her hair.

Then came his punchy retaliation to an egg thrower in the 2001 general election campaign.

Mr Prescott is an uncomplicated and passionate Labour stalwart who does not suffer fools gladly – nor Peter Mandelson and the Downing Street spin machine.

He represents old-style Labour and many believe that he owes his current position in the Cabinet through his perceived closeness to the trade unions. However, that reputation took a battering during the fire fighters strike when he threatened to impose a deal on the fire service.

After yesterday's antics, the equally sensitive and volatile national press have called for Prescott's removal at the next reshuffle. However, following the resignations and marginalizing of independent-minded Labour ministers like Mo Mowlam, Robin Cook, Clare Short and Tony Banks, John Prescott is a lively and lonley alternative to 'New' Labour's new breed of ambitious rising stars like David Milliband and Paul Boateng.

Nevertheless, Prescott is a political heavyweight who has proved himself as a loyal supporter of the Prime Minister in times of need. Mr Blair may not be gesturing his deputy toward the door just yet.

(GMcG)