Cowboy suit is Prescott’s right

BRITAIN’s parliamentary watchdogs have ruled that John Prescott was within his rights to receive a cowboy outfit from a billionaire bidding to open a super-casino at the Millennium Dome.

However, they criticised him for failing to immediately declare his stay at the ranch of the American billionaire.

But the deputy prime minister eventually “acted correctly” and will face no further sanctions over the matter, MPs on the Standards and Privileges Committee decided.

They said he was also not obliged to register a cowboy outfit presented to him during the visit because it was received in his ministerial capacity.

Mr Prescott initially argued that he did not have to declare the visit to Philip Anschutz’s Colorado home in the Register of Members’ Interests as he was on Government business at the time.

However, under intense political pressure, he later announced that he would be registering it retrospectively.

He has been attacked for his links to Mr Anschutz, even though he insists he has not been involved in planning decisions over casinos.

Mr Prescott is still fighting for his political life after a series of revelations which have damaged his credibility.