Prescott says sorry
Mr Prescott will make the closing speech at the Labour conference
Also In The News
|
Liverpool have broken their Champions League goal drought after a thrilling 3-2 win over Galatasaray at Anfield. |  |
Thursday, 28, Sep 2006 08:12
John Prescott has today apologised to Labour delegates for "letting myself and the party down" over the last year.
Delivering the closing speech at this year's autumn Labour conference, the deputy party leader alluded to the controversy that has dogged him for the past 12 months, including revelations of an affair with his private secretary.
And as his opening gambit, Mr Prescott said: "Tony [Blair, the prime minister] started his speech with a 'thankyou'. I want to start mine with a 'sorry'.
"In the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry."
Mr Prescott also used his speech to announce his intention to leave office when Mr Blair departs from Downing Street, in an address which marked his own personal swansong to the Labour rank and file following the prime minister's final address to the autumn conference as the party's leader on Tuesday.
"I want to tell you that this will be my last conference as your deputy leader. Thank you for electing me and thank you for your support over the last 12 years," he said.
The deputy prime minister's traditionally lighthearted speech at the end of the conference included references to the importance of climate change and hailed the Labour party for delivering on "every single" pledge they made when elected in 1997.
Labour is making a difference and has achieved significant success, Mr Prescott said, but he called for the upcoming debate over who will succeed Mr Blair as party leader to be carried out in "the framework of unity as it was in 1992 and 1994 [when the late John Smith and Mr Blair were elected as leaders]".
The speech followed a significant week for the party and a difficult political period for Mr Prescott, who was yesterday told he would not face a police investigation over his controversial stay at the ranch of American businessman Philip Anschutz.
Mr Prescott's closing speech also came less than 24 hours after the Labour leadership was defeated in debates over the government's flagship health reforms and council housing.