Now don't laugh. This is not a wind-up. It's not April 1. This is true. Honestly.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott - who thumped a voter, gave a V-sign in Downing Street and was notorious as a political bruiser - is to lead a diplomatic mission.

It's in his capacity as a member of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly and the mission is to Armenia, where there's apparently a state of emergency after violence and allegations of vote-rigging in recent elections.

"John Prescott to travel to Armenia to help defuse current political crisis," is the headline on a press release posted on the Council of Europe's website.

Now, stop it. Don't laugh, I said.

Comments

[Trevor 8 Mar 2008 21:39:04]

Well I'm damned !
He has walked right back in after very few days in the wilderness.
Pretty soon, nothing in politics - and New Labour politics in particular - will surprise us.

[Philip, Bristol 7 Mar 2008 13:10:19]

"I really thought he had been put out to grass for good."

Never keep a good man down....LOL...now that IS funny..

[Chris, Baildon UK 7 Mar 2008 12:53:30]

It could be a cunning plan - maybe he's only got a one-way ticket.

Please!

[neither/niether 7 Mar 2008 12:18:27]

The world gone mad! 40 political years out of date buffoon!! typical union leader, time left behind. no please!!!!....... I really thought he had been put out to grass for good.

[Chris, Baildon UK 7 Mar 2008 11:15:14]

As someone who is from Hull, I have known the incompetence and (according to my sister) creepyness of John Prescott for years before he hit the national scene.

[Fluffy, London, England 7 Mar 2008 10:46:43]

Are we paying for a "dairy-secretaries" to accompany him...?

[Angus, Fife 7 Mar 2008 10:28:48]

Eight people died in the violence in Armenia. That's no laughing matter. Anyone who is trying to stop more people dying gets my support.

[seb,uk 7 Mar 2008 10:06:57]

John Prescott to travel to Armenia to help eat all the pies.

[keith edwards 7 Mar 2008 10:02:15]

is mr prescott still obout i thought he was selling hotdogs in hull

[alan mcpartland dublin 7 Mar 2008 09:20:57]

Super Casinos for Armenia?. No better place I think. Violence and corruption. John is the ideal man. What can you say about this story. Truth is really stranger than fiction because you just could not make this up. Who in God's name is paying for this clown to go to Armenia. I hope it's not you guys. However it just demonstrates that, no matter how little talent you have, once you get on the gravy train you're there for life. It's a little club and all it's members benefit. No wonder people go into politics.

[Philip, Bristol 7 Mar 2008 08:22:22]

Jon

It took me ten minutes but I stopped laughing...

To paraphrase someone else

Personally, I would rather he went over to Zimbabwe and stayed there.

[Mentor - Northumberland 7 Mar 2008 00:30:19]

It is a wind up - it cannot be anything else!

How much has he cost on this jaunt?

[Khalid 6 Mar 2008 20:22:06]

Jon
Honest I wasn't laughing at you, I was otherwise occupied with [Timmy Mallet] & [The Laughing Policeman]

[John, Northumberland 6 Mar 2008 19:56:21]

Jon
I stopped laughing where this government are concerned a long time ago.

Though perhaps this is why Labour is so keen on Europe. Having worked their own unique brand of magic at home - the 'washed up socialists' move on to the Europe. Appointed not elected, more money and much better perks. Ideal.

First there was Woy Jenkins, then Kinnock & entire family, Prescott and then here comes the big one...TONY BLAIR - oh no! Not again!

[Jon, Cephalonia, Greece 6 Mar 2008 19:40:27]

Oh my god he's back. I wondered how long it would take for him to appear. After another cushy job funded by the tax payer no doubt.

Ladies and Gentleman, I give you the most discraceful man in politics ever.

[Ian, Lancashire 6 Mar 2008 19:39:41]

Have we anyone who can understand him AND translate his gibberish into Armenian?
If so give that person a knighthood.

[Elizabeth Davies Cape Town 6 Mar 2008 18:49:58]

From the bizarre to the ridiculous! Prescott man of peace! Could we hope that he will be so good at it they will keep him there...forever.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Mar 2008 18:37:10]

Carol-Ann,
I'd be interested to know why you chose a six months period
for suspending your membership, and whether this would have been reduced had J.P. suffered any consequences!
Obviously your action was the result of the behaviour of a fellow member, or more correctly, the behaviour of a fellow member's member!

[Peter, Fife 6 Mar 2008 18:19:23]

There must be a reasonable explanation.

Is there a croquet festival?

Is there a pie festival?

Or is this just a case of making as much as you can on expenses before the system is subjected to a greater degree of scrutiny.

[Sid in Gateshead 6 Mar 2008 18:10:13]

If he's going to difuse a political crisis will he get the chance to wear his cowboy outfit?

[G.KING SUSSEX 6 Mar 2008 17:31:58]

Nu-labour DIE HARD.
Well paid no doubt.Typical of this Champagne socialist party who just look after their own and show nothing but contempt to their voters.

[carol-ann liverpool 6 Mar 2008 17:29:22]

Jon,
Surely YOU can't be being snobbish here, can you?LOL!

Personally, I would rather he went over to Zimbabwe and scared the tripe out of Robert Mwgabe!

Now I have to admit, here, that I am biased on the subject of JP despite the fact that he comes from over the other side of the Mersey, given that I suspended my membership of the Labour Party for 6 months when his extra curricular activities were revealed.
Many people have affairs and even though I am against that it is not the reason why I suspended my membership, it was because his 'diary secretary' suffered consequences and he didn't.(Well, apart from a brain-sizzling verbal bashing from the Mrs, maybe)

Come to think of it, maybe they should have sent Pauline over, instead!!lol.

[Merv. Beszant, Dubai 6 Mar 2008 17:17:43]

Jon,
By the time he's made a couple of his serious, and meaningful, speeches, the people will be laughing so much that peace will be restored!