We will miss him!?
Thursday, May 17th, 2007John Prescott, soon to leave office, deputised for Tony Blair at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday. It was sheer pantomime.
Despite his excruciating syntax, many people view him as an unvarnished, real character. He once violently (verbally!) attacked me in the House of Commons tea room, much to my astonishment, until he realised that I was not a parliamentary colleague, Andrew Robathan. Some people think we look alike, although Andrew, now deputy Chief Whip, is actually younger, thinner and better looking than I am. On one occasion, as the deputy Prime Minister was walking past me in the division lobby, I jokingly said “Please don’t hit me”. He laughed and replied “It’s the other officer type I’m after”. So beware, Andrew.
I had the number one question slot yesterday to John Prescott. Here it is, and his reply.
Mr. Spring: May I quote two statements to the right hon. Gentleman? The first is from the Chancellor of the Exchequer and future Prime Minister, who said:
“I think if you look back over the last 10 years, what happened over the Dome was a mistake.”
The second is from the Deputy Prime Minister himself:
“If we can’t make this work, we’re not much of a Government.”
Who was right?
The Deputy Prime Minister: It was another terrible Tory mess that we inherited. I was supportive of the strategic necessity of building the Jubilee line under the previous Administration, as that was the right decision. It was also absolutely right to pay £350 million to bring back into use that poisonous bit of land in the middle of London. The target of 12 million people attending the Dome was set before we came into office. I disputed that at the time, but 7 million did attend, and 98 per cent. thought it was a good exhibition. I think that they were right, and I am not apologising for that.
Judge for yourself……..!