Prescott not to face charges over affair

Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will not face a criminal investigation into allegations about his affair with a secretary, Scotland Yard said today.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates said it would not be an appropriate use of police resources to follow up complaints about Mr Prescott's conduct in public office.

In a statement, he said: "It is considered that the potential consequences in respect of the alleged behaviour, even if proved, would not be so serious as to call for a prosecution.

"A distinction has to be drawn between action that could potentially discredit an office holder and those actions that constitute criminality."