PM stands by his deputy as Cameron raises questions over salary and perks

Published on Tuesday 9 May 2006 01:14

TONY Blair defended beleaguered John Prescott yesterday, after David Cameron cast aside the Conservatives' reluctance to attack the Deputy Prime Minister over his personal crisis.

Mr Blair insisted scandal-hit Mr Prescott would continue to serve an important role in government, as the Tories cried foul over Mr Prescott keeping his Cabinet salary and perks worth an estimated 800,000 despite being stripped of departmental duties.

Mr Prescott would steer the government's agenda on to the statute book and cut a deal across government, Mr Blair said.

He would chair committees and this was "rather more than sitting down and nodding to people to come in".

But the Tory leader - who until now had refused to discuss Mr Prescott's downfall over his extra-marital affair with a civil servant - said legitimate questions were raised over whether he should keep his ministerial salary and allowances.

"It's an extraordinary situation," he said. "The taxpayer should not be picking up the tab for the deputy leader of the Labour Party."

Despite keeping his 133,997 salary, even Mr Prescott would struggle to pay the tax bill for his grace and favour homes that accountants yesterday suggested he could be liable for as he had been relieved of his ministerial duties. This could leave him with a 366,000 annual bill.

Mr Prescott suffered a further blow when Scotland Yard confirmed it was looking into allegations over whether he had broken the law by allegedly having sex with his diary secretary in his Whitehall office.