Prescott admits two-year affair with secretary

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

Mr Prescott, aged 67, and Tracey Temple, aged 43, started meeting in secret at his government-owned flat after their fling began at an office party.

Mr Prescott was reported to have used his government flat in Admiralty House to pursue his affair and was said by the Daily Mirror to have used the ruse of asking his office to send Ms Temple there with papers he claimed to have forgotten to take home from work.

The deputy prime minister’s macho image has caused embarrassment in the past. During the 2001 election he was questioned by police after punching a protester who had thrown an egg at him.

Married to Pauline, and with two sons, he earned the nickname “Two Jags” for his love of large cars.

Mr Prescott told the Daily Mirror: “I did have a relationship with her 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.”

Downing Street refused to comment on the revelations yesterday morning, with a spokesman saying only: “It is a private matter.”

Father-of-two Mr Prescott, who has been married for more than 44 years, began working with Ms Temple when she was appointed as his assistant private secretary, with special responsibility for organising his diary.

The divorcee lives in Hampshire, with lorry driver Barrie Williams, aged 46.

Mr Williams told the Mirror: “I feel sick. I can’t believe the woman I wanted to marry has slept with John Prescott.”

Tony Blair’s office dismissed the story as “a private matter,” but it adds to the pressure on the Labour Party before Britain’s local council elections next week.

No 10 insisted that Mr Prescott’s affair was a private matter and said Mr Prescott had not offered to resign nor had he abused his position.

Mr Blair’s official spokesman said: “Since we have said this is a private matter, it would be entirely wrong for me to speak about this. Any discussion between the prime minister and the deputy prime minister remains private.”

The disclosure of Mr Prescott’s affair came on a day when British Home Secretary Charles Clarke was in the firing line over his admission that more than 1,000 foreign prisoners had been released from jail without proper consideration as to whether they should have been deported, and adds to the pressure on the party as it goes into a round of local elections next month.

A fellow minister said of him: “John will be feeling he has let the side down, let the Labour Party down.”