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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry | Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry |
| (about 1 hour 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 brought Labour's conference to an end, he said: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry." | As he brought Labour's conference to an end, he said: "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. | And he confirmed he would stand down as Labour's deputy leader when Tony Blair leaves Downing Street. |
| Giving his last conference speech in the post, Mr Prescott thanked Labour members for their support in his 12 years as the party's number two. | Giving his last conference speech in the post, Mr Prescott thanked Labour members for their support in his 12 years as the party's number two. |
| "I'll never leave the political fight," he said, vowing to keep campaigning for Labour. | "I'll never leave the political fight," he said, vowing to keep campaigning for Labour. |
| Three contenders - Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman - have already said they want his job and more looked poised to follow. | Three contenders - Jon Cruddas, Peter Hain and Harriet Harman - have already said they want his job and more looked poised to follow. |
| Mr Prescott's speech wrapped up the Labour conference, whose last day also saw Home Secretary John Reid signal that he may challenge Gordon Brown for the leadership. | Mr Prescott's speech wrapped up the Labour conference, whose last day also saw Home Secretary John Reid signal that he may challenge Gordon Brown for the leadership. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY John Prescott was like a seafront auctioneer selling cracked crockery John, Sleaford Send us your comments | |
| After his speech delegates were shown a video of Mr Prescott's best moments, with the biggest cheer going to his punch on a rural protester during the 2001 election campaign. | After his speech delegates were shown a video of Mr Prescott's best moments, with the biggest cheer going to his punch on a rural protester during the 2001 election campaign. |
| Mr Blair and Mr Brown joined other ministers in singing the Red Flag and Jerusalem at the end of the session. | Mr Blair and Mr Brown joined other ministers in singing the Red Flag and Jerusalem at the end of the session. |
| Disunity warning | Disunity warning |
| Mr Prescott said the last two leadership elections had been a credit to the party and said Labour must avoid the damage of disunity this time too. | Mr Prescott said the last two leadership elections had been a credit to the party and said 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 said. | "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. | 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. | "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. |
| Cameron attack | Cameron attack |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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." | "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." |