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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Prescott to quit as deputy leader | Prescott to quit as deputy leader |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| John Prescott has announced he is to resign as deputy leader of the Labour Party after 13 years. | John Prescott has announced he is to resign as deputy leader of the Labour Party after 13 years. |
| Mr Prescott, who always said he would stand down when Tony Blair did, made a formal announcement in an open letter. | Mr Prescott, who always said he would stand down when Tony Blair did, made a formal announcement in an open letter. |
| "To have been deputy leader and the longest serving deputy prime minister is a matter of great pride to me," he wrote to party members in Hull East. | "To have been deputy leader and the longest serving deputy prime minister is a matter of great pride to me," he wrote to party members in Hull East. |
| It is now expected that he will step down as deputy PM around the time Mr Blair leaves No 10, on 27 June. | It is now expected that he will step down as deputy PM around the time Mr Blair leaves No 10, on 27 June. |
| Education Secretary Alan Johnson, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn, party chairwoman Hazel Blears and backbencher Jon Cruddas have all said they will run for the deputy leadership. | |
| Kyoto pride | Kyoto pride |
| But while Mr Prescott is both deputy leader of the party, and deputy prime minister, it is not known if the two roles will continue to be combined. | |
| Within hours of Mr Prescott's announcement, both Mr Hain and Ms Harman said they had the required 45 backers to get onto the ballot paper. | |
| Meanwhile Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Stephen Timms have declared their support for Hilary Benn. | |
| Mr Prescott has been an MP since 1970 and deputy prime minister since 1997. | Mr Prescott has been an MP since 1970 and deputy prime minister since 1997. |
| In the letter he said he was proud of his achievements on transport, jobs and in helping to secure the Kyoto agreement on climate change. | In the letter he said he was proud of his achievements on transport, jobs and in helping to secure the Kyoto agreement on climate change. |
| He also thanked his constituents for their support. | He also thanked his constituents for their support. |
| He has never shied away from making sure that the party's view is represented at the highest level and he always stands up for what he believes in Peter WattLabour Party general secretary | He has never shied away from making sure that the party's view is represented at the highest level and he always stands up for what he believes in Peter WattLabour Party general secretary |
| He added: "Tony and I were elected together back in 1994 and it has been an honour to serve as deputy to the most successful Labour prime minister ever. | He added: "Tony and I were elected together back in 1994 and it has been an honour to serve as deputy to the most successful Labour prime minister ever. |
| "To have been deputy leader and the longest serving deputy prime minister is a matter of great pride to me. | "To have been deputy leader and the longest serving deputy prime minister is a matter of great pride to me. |
| "This government is testament to the fact that it is possible to apply traditional Labour values in a modern setting." | "This government is testament to the fact that it is possible to apply traditional Labour values in a modern setting." |
| At last year's Labour conference, Mr Prescott apologised for letting the party down, following controversies over an affair with his diary secretary, and receiving hospitality from a US tycoon. | At last year's Labour conference, Mr Prescott apologised for letting the party down, following controversies over an affair with his diary secretary, and receiving hospitality from a US tycoon. |
| But Peter Watt, the Labour Party's general secretary said Mr Prescott was a "party man" first and foremost, who had been a superb deputy leader. | But Peter Watt, the Labour Party's general secretary said Mr Prescott was a "party man" first and foremost, who had been a superb deputy leader. |
| "He has never shied away from making sure that the party's view is represented at the highest level and he always stands up for what he believes in," he said. | "He has never shied away from making sure that the party's view is represented at the highest level and he always stands up for what he believes in," he said. |