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Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry
(9 minutes later)
John Prescott has apologised for letting Labour down over the past year.John Prescott has apologised for letting Labour down over the past year.
The deputy prime minister has been at the centre of controversy over an affair with his diary secretary, and hospitality from a US tycoon.The deputy prime minister has been at the centre of controversy over an affair with his diary secretary, and hospitality from a US tycoon.
As he wrapped up the party's conference in Manchester, he said: "This party has given me everything and I've tried to give it everything I've got. He told the Labour delegates in Manchester: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry."
"I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry." And he confirmed he would stand down as Labour's deputy leader when Tony Blair leaves Downing Street.
Mr Prescott is not expected to use the speech to say he will stand down as deputy leader when Tony Blair quits as prime minister. Three contenders - Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman - have already said they want his job and more looked poised to follow.
That is despite the fact that three contenders - Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman - have already said they want his job and more looked poised to follow.
Demanding disciplineDemanding discipline
The deputy prime minister is saying he is proud of what he and Mr Blair had achieved together, despite occasionally agreeing to disagree. The deputy prime minister said he was proud of what he and Mr Blair had achieved together, despite occasionally agreeing to disagree.
"Tony, we all know the greatest tribute we can make to your time in office is to find within ourselves the energy, the vision, the commitment, and yes, the discipline to win a historic fourth general election victory," he will say. "Tony, we all know the greatest tribute we can make to your time in office is to find within ourselves the energy, the vision, the commitment, and yes, the discipline to win a historic fourth general election victory," he said.
Mr Prescott says the last two leadership elections were a credit to the party and Labour must make sure the next contest is conducted in a "framework of unity". Mr Prescott said the last two leadership elections were a credit to the party and Labour must avoid the damage of disunity this time too.
"I've seen Labour governments, elected with big majorities, driven out within a few years as the party bitterly divided," he will say. "I've seen Labour governments, elected with big majorities, driven out within a few years as the party bitterly divided," he said.
Mr Prescott said he was proud of what he and Mr Blair had achieved together, despite occasionally agreeing to disagree.
"Tony, we all know the greatest tribute we can make to your time in office is to find within ourselves the energy, the vision, the commitment, and yes, the discipline to win a historic fourth general election victory," he said.
Mr Prescott hailed Labour's achievements in rebuilding cities, improving education and healthcare and leading the world when he negotiated the Kyoto deal on cutting greenhouse gases.
He said allowing the party to slip into opposition would be a betrayal of the millions of people who rely on a government to make their lives better.
And he attacked Conservative leader David Cameron for hypocrisy and putting clever marketing above serious politics.
"If David Cameron thinks that a photo shoot of him hugging a husky dog and adopting an oak tree for their emblem could fool the British people into thinking that the Tories have fundamentally changed, he's barking up the wrong tree."