A government of Neros

John Prescott has always claimed to be one of the unacknowledged founders of New Labour. It is certainly true that he took an early lead in modernising the party’s structure, championing the Private Finance Initiative and the coining of slogans: ‘traditional values in a modern setting’ came from the Prescott camp, not the restaurants of Islington.

But the Deputy Prime Minister’s true significance to the Blair era has been even deeper. He has been the indispensable bridge between the Prime Minister and the Labour movement, the sidekick who has vouched for Tony Blair when he has appeared to be desecrating all that the party stands for.

Mr Prescott’s departmental portfolio has always been incidental; he is a lousy minister who has presided over failure in transport, environment and housing policy. But his ministerial responsibilities — rather than Dorneywood — were always his true perks. The Deputy Prime Minister’s real job was to keep the peace between Mr Blair and the Labour party and, in later years, to broker a succession deal between the Prime Minister and Chancellor.