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Downing Street Denies Prescott Will be Traded in for Miliband

Downing Street has denied some newspaper reports that Environment Secretary David Miliband has been hand picked as the next in line should John Prescott resign as Deputy Prime Minister because of the growing pressure over the casino-bid controversy.

News has been circulating around Britain about Miliband, 41, being eyed for the long-term replacement of the scandal-laden Prescott.

No. 10 Downing Street said that there had been "no talk" of Miliband replacing Prescott as DPM.

Reports of Prescott walking out of last week's cabinet meeting were also described as "absolute rubbish".

The reports of Miliband's takeover from Prescott was described by Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt as "speculation and froth".

However some government officials have expressed doubt as to whether it was still right for Prescott to take over from Prime Minister Blair when he goes on vacation. This added to the growing media hype and public pressure because of his involvement in a casino controversy involving the Millennium Dome and its owner.

Labour MP Kate Hoey says, "[The Miliband speculation] means that clearly there is some thought that he may not be around for very much longer."

"When you look at every single paper, [they're] full of this - there's editorials, cartoons, all sorts of things," she added.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell drips of information and evidence against Prescott would influence the deputy leader's position. "I would not be at all surprised if we find him stepping down from the deputy prime ministership but remaining as the deputy leader of the Labour Party in order not to provoke the kind of leadership frenzy and the speculation over Mr Blair's future," he said.

 

Monday, 24. 2006
Victor Copeland