Johnson expresses interest in Prescott job

Education Secretary Alan Johnson has expressed an interest in taking over the post of Labour Deputy Leader from John Prescott.

In an interview with GMTV's Sunday Programme, Mr Johnson said that he hoped that Mr Prescott would remain in the post of deputy leader.

However, he admitted: "People have asked me if, when there is a vacancy, if I'd be interested in that vacancy and I've said quite honestly: yes, I would."

Mr Prescott has been under increasing pressure to resign, following revelations that he had an affair with his diary secretary. The row worsened when he was stripped of his departmental responsibilities in last month's Cabinet reshuffle, but he was allowed to retain the title of Deputy Prime Minister, his £133,000 ministerial salary and the perks of the job, including his grace-and-favour homes - Dorneywood in Buckinghamshire and a flat in Admiralty House in London.

Mr Prescott announced this week that he would give up Dorneywood, following the publication of photographs showing him playing croquet in the grounds of the mansion while he was deputising for Prime Minister Tony Blair who is on holiday.

Although Mr Prescott said that the game had taken place two days before Mr Blair went on holiday, he agreed to give up the use of Dorneywood, after being criticised by several Labour backbenchers, as well as the opposition parties.

However, in his GMTV interview, Mr Johnson defended the Deputy Prime Minister. He said: "He works harder than probably anybody I know. I don't want to get into the personal issues that happened around his family, that's a personal issue that he's already spoken of and dealt with a great deal of regret.

"What I want to say is I think John Prescott is an excellent deputy leader of our party, he's been central to what our party has achieved since 1994 and I very much hope he stays as deputy leader."

Mr Johnson's comments followed those made by Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman, who appeared to suggest that she may be interested in the post by suggesting that there should be two deputy leaders, one of whom should be a woman.

(KMcA)