US Brushes Off 'Crap' Accusation

The White House has made light of reports alleging that John Prescott said George Bush had been "crap" on the Middle East peace process. Tony Snow, a White House spokesman, said: "The president has been called a lot worse and I suspect will be."

Mr Snow added that President Bush would have to face "piquant names" being hurled at him from time to time.

The deputy prime minister said the reports of his comments in a private meeting with MPs were inaccurate.

However, Mr Snow added pointedly: "The president talks regularly with Prime Minister Blair, who is the prime minister.

"Prime Minister Blair has made it clear: he is going to remain a firm ally to the United States in the war on terror."

He said both men "have taken some hits" in the polls but saw their primary obligation as protecting national security.

Labour MP Harry Cohen said the remark came during a private, "robust" meeting on Tuesday with fellow Labour MPs.

The Labour MP said he believed Mr Prescott's comment had been "an honest and good point, well made".

Mr Cohen said Mr Prescott's "crap" comment had been specific to the US efforts on the road map.

It was not a view of President Bush generally, the Bush administration as a whole, or the Bush administration's general Middle East policy, he added.

He said Mr Prescott claimed he had only supported the Iraq war "because they were promised the road map".

The comments were said to have been made at talks with Muslim MPs and other Labour MPs with constituencies representing large Muslim communities.

Mr Cohen said Mr Prescott's other reported comment - calling Mr Bush a "cowboy" - was a joke related to his own recent difficulties over a cowboy outfit gift he was given last year.

Colin Brown, who is the deputy prime minister's biographer, said that this was "the type of language" used by Mr Prescott.

"It's a shorthand, it's very pithy, it's not diplomatic, and I hope that he doesn't get into any diplomatic hot water about it," he told BBC News 24.

For the Lib Dems, Norman Lamb, said: "John Prescott does not always use the most appropriate language, but if these reports are to be believed then his instincts on the Middle East are certainly preferable to Tony Blair's."

Mr Prescott has been Tony Blair's deputy since he came to power in 1997. Mr Blair is on holiday at the moment, leaving Mr Prescott in charge of the government.

Prezza, the movie

By Hugh Davies
The Telegraph (UK)
(Filed: 17/08/2006)

ITV is turning John Prescott's adultery with his secretary into a £1.5 million drama called Prezza for prime-time transmission.

Casting is yet to begin, but Lancashire-born Warren Clarke, 59, famously grumpy as Det Supt Andy Dalziel in the BBC's Dalziel and Pascoe, is seen as ideal for the part of Mr Prescott who was raised in South Yorkshire, and represents Hull East.

Not amused: John Prescott is said to take himself seriously

Prezza, to be broadcast next year, will contain observations of high government, party politics and the media frenzy of Mr Prescott's fall from grace.

Central to the drama will be scenes of a sexual nature, as the film is being made by Mentorn, the independent producer behind More 4's A Very Social Secretary, about the extra-curricular activities of another New Labour minister, David Blunkett. Mr Blunkett instructed his lawyers in an attempt to suppress what many people regarded as a piece of legitimate television satire.

He also rang Channel 4's chief executive to complain. The film became a runaway hit.

Mr Prescott, currently in charge of Britain while Tony Blair is relaxing in the Caribbean, is unlikely to go so far. ITV's chief, Charles Allen, is resigning, anyway. However, Mr Prescott is not expected to be amused.

Westminster observers say he will hate the ridicule. One said: "He takes himself very seriously. The notion of millions of viewers guffawing at his plight could be his worst nightmare."

Needing to forge ahead in the ratings after a bad summer, ITV sees the 90-minute film as a "sassy" audience grabber, especially if the network can add either Michael Sheen or Robert Lindsay - both of whom have acted as Mr Blair - to the line-up.

ITV sources say that the film will take a "full and frank" look into Mr Prescott's life, including his 2001 punching of an egg-throwing protester in Rhyl, his "two Jags" fondness for cars and his passion for croquet.

However, the script will concentrate on his two-year affair with Tracey Temple, his diary secretary, which is said to have started after an office party and continued in his grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall and at his then country home, Dorneywood.

A noted soap actress is being approached to play Pauline, Mr Prescott's wife of 44 years, whom the MP admitted was "devastated" by the revelations.

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