UK & World News
- 10 February 2012, 14:58
Ex-Deputy PM Prescott Wants To Be Police Boss
Lord Prescott will run to be elected as one of the UK's first police and crime commissioners - and Sky sources say he will use his phone-hacking settlement cash to fund the campaign.
The former deputy prime minister confirmed he will run for the post in the Humberside elections in November.
Directly-elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are being introduced to replace police authorities in England and Wales.
They will have the power to hire and fire chief constables, as well as set the police force's budget and "strategic direction".
Lord Prescott's decision to run comes despite Labour labelling the flagship initiative, introduced by the coalition, as unnecessary and costly.
He told the Hull Daily Mail: "For the last 19 months I have fought to hold the Metropolitan Police to account for its unwillingness to investigate illegal phone hacking by Rupert Murdoch's News Of The World.
"I have now succeeded in securing an apology from both the police and News Group Newspapers.
"But during this struggle, I came to believe that there should be greater transparency and accountability of our police. The public should have much more of a say in determining the force's priorities and responsibilities.
"I feel that after proudly serving as a local MP for 40 years and as a cabinet minister for 10 years, I have the experience to listen to the public and help be their strong voice in supporting the police and holding them to account."
what do you think?
peter
NO, NO, NO Mr Prescott..... We don't want blue flashing lights on your 2 - jags.
Andy Smithies
Never NEVER EVER PLEASE GOD NOOOOoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Raymond Castle
Oh please no! Hold on a minute.....of course, it's an early April fool. Isn't it?
stevie may
I hope he'd help common people more than he ever helped them when at the top of government. New Labour betrayed the working class as well as betraying the values of their founding members by continuing to employ Thatcherite neo liberal faceless capitalist policies. . . No difference these days between labour, conservative and liberal. . All the same
Robert Hare
Yes your right there Steve there all the same all claiming to run! !!!CAPITALISM!!! Better than the other in it for there own interests not ours anymore. They seem to bow to Brussels rulings on everything so we might as well not have a Parliament anymore. I personal wouldn't allow Prescott to run me a bath.
Chris Nicholls
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
Gillian Stafford
They just never give up do they ? Just like Raymond above I had to double check todays date!
Gordon Berry
I can't believe it! never should he have a position like that. He is too erratic.
andy may
he'd be perfect for the role: sincere, transparent, honest, full of integrity, and a sense of fairness and justice. NOT. I wonder if he'll treat "travellers" as a "special" case as he stated when in government, when hard working tax payers were having their lives destroyed by the detritus? secretaries watch your backs. those arrested, watch out for those stairs!
Andy Bunting
Oh wonderful! Of course he's the very sort of honest, upright & trustworthy fellow required for such an important position. I trust that his contract will have a hand's off the female staff & no punching the citizenry clauses suitably inserted? I not sure if this gent could even lay straight in his own bed??!!
antfrog2000
....it will never happen, hes got egg on his face!!!!!
Windows Live User
Oh, Please to heavens NO Can we not get rid of this clown?
Fred Spoons
I thought he was putting in for the UK boxing team coach job?
keith
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
David Wragg
Isn't this the man who thumped someone whop threw an egg at him during an election campaign? Does this mean that we will be able to take the law into our own hands?
Clive Jones
His last line say's it all...'supporting the police and holding them to account'. All he'll do is be a pain in the ar.e like he's always been. He won't support but will hold to account, (his expenses account). He's never been trustworthy in 40 years of Labour rhetoric. He doesn't hold any moral ground. Who the hell gave him a title and what for.
david p
10:19am on 10/2/2012
Does the post come with a salary or a grace and favour palace.....?