Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Prescott strikes again
I am not sure what it is about John Prescott and Wales but when I walked into the Assembly Chamber today everybody was talking about this article in the South Wales Argus. As David Cornock points out it wasn't quite as exciting as the rumble in Rhyl but it was still entertaining. I will let the Argus reporter, Mark Choueke, take up the story of when he asked Mr. Prescott for a comment on Peter Law's decision to stand as an independent in Blaenau Gwent:
Mark Choueke - How did you and your cabinet colleagues react to Peter Law's decision to quit the party after 35 years service to Blaenau Gwent as a Labour politician?
John Prescott - It didn't even register with us. The voters just have one choice, vote Labour otherwise they'll end up with a Tory government. It's unfortunate that some of our decisions upset some people.
MC - But this isn't about upsetting Peter Law, it's about upsetting the many thousands of Labour voters in Blaenau Gwent who helped you form a strong government - they feel alienated.
JP - Why are you asking me about this, I don't care, it's a Welsh situation, I'm a national politician.
MC - Are you too big to care about the Labour voters in Blaenau Gwent? Do you think there may be something in your party's methods of working that require a rethink when a politician chooses to stand against you after 35 years service to Labour?
JP (walking away) - Where do they get these amateurs from? You're an amateur mate, go get on your bus, go home.
MC - Are you too big for the regional Press now John?
JP - Bugger off - get on your bus you amateur.
MC - (Following deputy prime minister) Is my interview over John? Because if that's all you've got to say, that's what will go in the paper.
JP (turns aggressively back to reporter) - Ooohh, I'm scared, go ahead, put it in your paper.
Labour candidate for Monmouth Huw Edwards: "I could answer this question for you Mark...
MC - I hoped to hear what the deputy prime minister had to say about it.
JP (now ignoring reporter) - I've never seen a school in such a lovely setting.
Mark Choueke - How did you and your cabinet colleagues react to Peter Law's decision to quit the party after 35 years service to Blaenau Gwent as a Labour politician?
John Prescott - It didn't even register with us. The voters just have one choice, vote Labour otherwise they'll end up with a Tory government. It's unfortunate that some of our decisions upset some people.
MC - But this isn't about upsetting Peter Law, it's about upsetting the many thousands of Labour voters in Blaenau Gwent who helped you form a strong government - they feel alienated.
JP - Why are you asking me about this, I don't care, it's a Welsh situation, I'm a national politician.
MC - Are you too big to care about the Labour voters in Blaenau Gwent? Do you think there may be something in your party's methods of working that require a rethink when a politician chooses to stand against you after 35 years service to Labour?
JP (walking away) - Where do they get these amateurs from? You're an amateur mate, go get on your bus, go home.
MC - Are you too big for the regional Press now John?
JP - Bugger off - get on your bus you amateur.
MC - (Following deputy prime minister) Is my interview over John? Because if that's all you've got to say, that's what will go in the paper.
JP (turns aggressively back to reporter) - Ooohh, I'm scared, go ahead, put it in your paper.
Labour candidate for Monmouth Huw Edwards: "I could answer this question for you Mark...
MC - I hoped to hear what the deputy prime minister had to say about it.
JP (now ignoring reporter) - I've never seen a school in such a lovely setting.
