Mutual dislike
- 6 Jul 06, 11:43 AM
So, John Prescott has kissed goodbye to the headlines that said the end was nigh. He's blaming his current plight on the media - "they don't like me and I don't like them".
His defence is simple. Yes, he did champion the cause of Philip Anschutz - the man he sees as the saviour of the Dome. But no, he had nothing to do with any decision on whether a super-casino will go into it.
His difficulty remains that his officials did tell other parts of government about his meetings with Anschutz and that a casino in the Dome was a key plank in the long-term business strategy (see the memos produced by Newsnight last night)
Also there are allegations that his department leant on others not to make rival bids for a casino.
His defence - and, for now, it seems to be a pretty solid one - is that all times he got his permanent secretary's approval - and that he separated himself from decisions about the casino bid. Until someone proves that he knew something or that he was lying, I think he is on safe ground.
However, he will not enjoy the fact that Sir Alastair Graham - the standards watchdog - now says there should be a proper enquiry into whether he's breached ministerial rules. And Sir Phillip Mawer is now investigating whether he broke Commons rules.
I note that, so far, none of Prescott's senior colleagues are rushing to his aid - they are watching and waiting to see if there is another revelation - to see if he has to go. They are contemplating life after him. Most of them hope he can survive - many of them think he may not.
Talking of revelations I seemed to stir up a hornet's nest by pointing out yesterday that certain blogs are running unsubstantiated and politically motivated allegations about the deputy prime minister's private life. I was not attacking them. I read them - from time to time. I enjoy them but there is, rightly a difference and a distance between what they do and I do.
PS. In his interview with John Humphrys this morning (listen here) John Prescott pretended he didn't really know what the internet or blogs were (even though there was a election).
But if, like him, you are mystified or even intrigued by the talk of political blogs, my colleage Alan Connor from the Daily Politics has put together on some of the sites you have might heard of.
PPS. I'm on a train. John Prescott is sitting five seats away.
