26/04/2006

John Prescott admits to two-year affair

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has admitted to having a two-year affair with one of his secretaries.

The 67-year-old confessed to the affair in an interview with the 'Daily Mirror'.

According to the report, the affair between Mr Prescott and 43-year-old Tracey Temple began after the office Christmas party in 2002.

Mr Prescott told the newspaper that his wife Pauline was "devastated" by the news. He said: "I did have a relationship with her (Ms Temple) which I regret.

"It ended some time ago. I have discussed this fully with my wife Pauline who is devastated by the news.

"I would be grateful if Pauline and I can now get on with our lives together."

Before she began working for Mr Prescott, Ms Temple is understood to have worked for former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam as her personal diary secretary.

It was reported that the pair had remained close friends until Ms Mowlam's death from cancer last year.

Downing Street has reportedly said that the affair is a "private matter" and stressed that Mr Prescott has the full backing of Prime Minister Tony Blair.

(KMcA/CD)

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