Disaster diary of John Prescott, age 68

Last updated at 00:17 11 May 2007


The Deputy Prime Minister's mangling of the English language has become as infamous as his antics. Some of his more celebrated comments include: "It's great to be back on Terra Cotta" (after a bumpy plane landing) and: "The green belt is a Labour policy and we intend to build on it." Here the Daily Mail looks back on his ten years in the job.

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Prescott

August 1997

Mocks his Cabinet colleague Peter Mandelson, with whom he had clashed over the Millennium Dome - by comparing him to a crab in a jar during a photo call. Gazing at the Chinese Mitten Crab, he tells journalists: 'Do you know what his name is? Peter.'

Labour Conference September 1999

Lives up to his nickname, Two Jags, after using his official car to ferry him and his wife a few yards to the conference centre. Says the journey was necessary because 'the wife doesn't like to get her hair blown about'.

General Election May 2001

Thumps countryside protester Craig Evans, who threw an egg at him on the campaign trail in Wales. Tony Blair shrugs off the controversy, saying: "John is John."

January 2006

It emerges that he has not paid a penny of council tax for eight years on his grace-and-favour Whitehall flat - despite running the council tax system. He is forced to issue an humiliating apology and pay the £14,000 bill.

April 2006

Admits to an affair with his diary secretary Tracey Temple after pictures of the couple frolicking at the office Christmas party are published.

May 2006

After huge losses in the local elections, he is stripped of his departmental responsibility in a reshuffle but allowed to keep title of Deputy Prime Minister, grace-and-favour properties, a £134,000 salary and seat in Cabinet-Is later forced to surrender his country home after pictures are published of him playing croquet while Mr Blair is out of the country.

July 2006

Sleaze watchdog criticises him for staying at the Colorado ranch of Dome billionaire Philip Anschutz while he was bidding for a supercasino licence. The DPM claims he was there to examine 'sugar beet' and to discuss anti- slavery campaigner William Wilberforce. He returns home with gifts including a Stetson, boots, spurs, buckle and a leather-bound notebook.

August 2006

Labour MPs reveal that he described President Bush's Middle East policy as 'crap' in a meeting. He is also said to have mocked the President as a 'cowboy with his Stetson on', adding: 'I can hardly talk about that, can I?'

September 2006

Announces he will quit as Deputy Leader in 2007. Tells Labour activists: 'I know in the last year I let myself down. I let you down. I just want to say sorry.'

December 2006

A false tooth flies out in the middle of a major speech to European leaders in Portugal.

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