LONDON - The police have been asked to investigate whether John Prescott broke anti-corruption laws when he accepted an invitation to stay with Philip Anschutz, the billionaire owner of the Millennium Dome.
Norman Baker, the sleaze-busting Liberal Democrat MP, yesterday wrote to Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates asking him to launch an inquiry under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Senior anti-fraud lawyers believe Prescott may have breached the terms of the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916 - which say that ministers should not accept hospitality from a person or organisation which has obtained or is trying to obtain an official contract - when he accepted the invitation, with his officials, to stay at Anschutz's Colorado ranch last year.
"There is a prima facie case that needs to be investigated. I have asked the Met to investigate Prescott and his acceptance of Ancschutz's hospitality under anti-corruption laws," Baker said.
Whitehall is furious that the Deputy Prime Minister compromised the integrity of officials when he asked them to accompany him to the ranch to stay with the billionaire. Potential successors to Prescott's job as deputy leader of the Labour Party were holding fire this weekend, waiting to see if he is forced out of office.
Some of Tony Blair's allies are urging him to "decouple his future" from that of his beleaguered deputy.
Meanwhile, just when Prescott thought jokes at his expense couldn't get any worse, a new book looks likely to add to his woes.
The John Prescott Kama Sutra by Sun columnist Kelvin MacKenzie promises readers advice about sex from the "minister who really knows how to administer".
MacKenzie's reworking of the venerable Joy of Sex offers the reader tips on how "pleasure like Prezza". It will feature illustrations similar to those of the 1970s best-seller, with Prescott in place of the bearded lover.
Following revelations about the Deputy Prime Minister's affair with his former secretary, Tracey Temple, MacKenzie will examine Prescott's techniques, including "Memorial Servicing: in which Prescott dashes back from a memorial service at St Paul's and tries it on with his lover".
Flexible lovers are invited to try the "Admiralty Arch-Back, where Prescott stands to attention and his girlfriend salutes him as they have sex standing up at his flat in Admiralty Arch (paid for by the taxpayer)".
MacKenzie, a former Sun editor, plans to launch the book at the Labour Party conference in October.
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Deputy PM faces anti-corruption law probe
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