28/09/2006

Prescott apologises at Labour conference

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has apologised for letting Labour down through a series of scandals over the past year.

Speaking at the close of the party's conference in Manchester, Mr Prescott apologised for his affair with his diary secretary, as well as for the controversy over his visits to US billionaire Phil Anschutz - the owner of the Millennium Dome, who currently has a bid in to convert the venue into Britain's only 'super casino' - in a year which saw him stripped of his departmental responsibilities, following Labour's poor showing at May's local elections.

Addressing delegates, Mr Prescott said: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry."

Mr Prescott also confirmed that he would step down as Labour's deputy leader when Tony Blair leaves Downing Street next year.

However, he insisted that he would not be leaving "the political fight" and would continue to campaign for the Labour party.

The deputy leader's speech was rounded off with the showing of a short video, containing a collection of clips from throughout his career. Footage from the 2001 General Election campaign, when Mr Prescott punched a protestor who threw an egg at him, drew the biggest cheer from the conference.

He was joined onstage by his wife Pauline to receive a standing ovation.

(KMcA/EF)


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