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Prescott Forced to Declare Ranch Visit5 July 2006LONDON, England -- As reported by the Guardian: "John Prescott executed a rapid U-turn today and bowed to pressure to register his stay with the American billionaire owner of the Dome after it was revealed he was being investigated by the parliamentary sleaze watchdog. "Only yesterday the deputy prime minister said there was no reason to declare the hospitality of Philip Anschutz as Mr Prescott had been on an official visit to the US. "Today the under-fire Mr Prescott was absent from prime minister's questions, but issued a statement during the session saying the overnight stay at the 30,000 acre ranch would now be registered. "A spokesman for Mr Prescott announced he had decided to make the entry to ensure there was no doubt that he had 'acted at all times with integrity' in his meetings with Philip Anschutz, who is seeking to open a super-casino in the Millennium Dome. "The announcement came after the parliamentary standards commissioner, Sir Philip Mawer, launched a preliminary inquiry into allegations surrounding the trip to the ranch in Colorado last July. "...Only after he has considered Mr Prescott's response will he decide whether to launch a full inquiry, which could involve calling witnesses, demanding papers or interviewing the DPM face to face. "...The row may even expand to Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary directly responsible for gambling licensing, after revelations today that she had met Mr Anschutz at dinners arranged by the Freud PR firm..." |