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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| John Prescott to stand down as MP | John Prescott to stand down as MP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| John Prescott has said he will stand down as an MP at the next election. | |
| The former deputy prime minister made the announcement at a weekend garden party, the chairman of the Hull East Labour Party, Steve Brady, said. | The former deputy prime minister made the announcement at a weekend garden party, the chairman of the Hull East Labour Party, Steve Brady, said. |
| Mr Prescott, 69, has been an MP for 37 years and has already taken a role as the British representative to the Council of Europe. | Mr Prescott, 69, has been an MP for 37 years and has already taken a role as the British representative to the Council of Europe. |
| The Hull East MP, seen as a mediator between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, quit his government post in June. | The Hull East MP, seen as a mediator between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, quit his government post in June. |
| Councillor Brady said Mr Prescott's decision to stand down had been widely expected, but the MP still enjoyed wide support. | |
| "There was loud applause for him for the work that he has done, and also there were tributes paid for the time that he served as MP," he said. | |
| "There were many people who were there at his original selection who were there also to pay tribute." | |
| Long service | |
| Mr Prescott's working life took him from a job as a steward on cruise ships to the top table of government - serving as deputy prime minister throughout the Blair administration. | Mr Prescott's working life took him from a job as a steward on cruise ships to the top table of government - serving as deputy prime minister throughout the Blair administration. |
| Along with his political achievements, such as working towards the Kyoto protocol on climate change, other events catapulted him into the headlines. | Along with his political achievements, such as working towards the Kyoto protocol on climate change, other events catapulted him into the headlines. |
| In the 2001 general election campaign he scuffled with a man who threw an egg at him. And in 2006, he admitted to an affair with secretary Tracey Temple. | In the 2001 general election campaign he scuffled with a man who threw an egg at him. And in 2006, he admitted to an affair with secretary Tracey Temple. |
| His image problems were later compounded when a newspaper published pictures of him playing croquet with staff at his grace-and-favour country residence, Dorneywood. | His image problems were later compounded when a newspaper published pictures of him playing croquet with staff at his grace-and-favour country residence, Dorneywood. |
| But, as an old Labour stalwart, Mr Prescott helped to maintain links between the party leadership and membership. | But, as an old Labour stalwart, Mr Prescott helped to maintain links between the party leadership and membership. |
| He remained an MP after quitting the government when Mr Blair left office and will replace Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. | He remained an MP after quitting the government when Mr Blair left office and will replace Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd on the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. |
| Earlier this month it was confirmed that he was in talks with publishers over his memoirs. | Earlier this month it was confirmed that he was in talks with publishers over his memoirs. |