How not to win selection for a safe Parliamentary seat, by David Prescott.
1. Try to inherit the seat held for 38 years by your father, a man dubbed "the mouth of the Humber" soon after his election to Parliament as MP for Hull East, who then rose to become a controversial Deputy Prime Minister whose ministerial career ended in scandal, humiliation and disgrace.
2. Use a slogan "My own man, not my old man" which only draws attention to the fact that you're John Prescott's son.
3. Whinge to the Mail on Sunday just a fortnight before the crucial selection meeting that you're the victim of a smear campaign, complaining: "There are some vested interests out there who don't want me to progress. I've seen the stuff that was thrown at John over the years. I'm starting to get that now."
4. Over-react to rather than ignore or laugh off a piece of tittle tattle in Kevin Maguire's column in the New Statesman which said: "What's this? It's the muffled sound of bones rattling in the cupboard of David Prescott as he plots to step into Daddy's Hull East loafers. Little David is one of the shortlisted Unmagnificent Seven, so a public print is sniffing around a bizarre tale involving an unwanted gift plopped on the north London kitchen floor of a woman now working in the government. I'm sure there's an innocent explanation. Where will it all end?"
5. Fail to heed the advice of a Labour official, quoted in the Mail on Sunday and again in The Times, who said, stating the obvious: "With the best will in the world it is hard to argue that David Prescott would have a chance of winning the Hull East selection if he were not John's son. It looks bad when we are attacking David Cameron's Tories as the party of privilege."
I could go on... unlike the Prescott dynasty. For now, at least.
Even the New Labour apologists won't stick up for this loser.
Crawl back under your stone!
Posted by: John (Northumberland) 18 Mar 2008 16:27:19
he should stay out of politics and run a hotdog stall with his dad
Posted by: keith in croydon 18 Mar 2008 10:47:52
Surely this is nEU-Labour policy. Any and all jobs are not to be given to white males...?
Goes around, comes home!
Posted by: Fluffy, London, England 18 Mar 2008 10:16:11
Like father like son.
His ambition is to look after himself.
Why anyone would vote for him defies any sense of intelligence or independent thought process at work.
Posted by: Pantherman 18 Mar 2008 09:16:38
At least the pie & biscuit expenses will be less!
Just a thought...what did Prescott (Snr)ever achieve in government?
Over to you, all you Labour apologists...not that you'd apologise, that'd take a bit of humility (oh & conscience).
Posted by: Dave, Blackburn 18 Mar 2008 08:33:31
As the voters of Hull East saw fit to continually re-elect John Prescott over a 38 year span, it is patently evident that they deserve nothing more in the way of reward, than to have his son David for the next 38 years.
They have long mouthed off (Humber mouthed), about how much they revere their Labour Party roots up there, so no need for change, more of the same will do nicely thank-you.
Posted by: Robert, Scotland 17 Mar 2008 20:11:13
Oh Dear, seems that David has inhereted some of the 'Simpson-esque' genes from the old man! Doh!
Hardly a good start to mention who your dad is, if you intend to be taken seriously as a prospective MP standing for his former seat!
Don't think that it is a name with any gravitas attached to it.
I was going to say he should change his name to David CAMERON.... until I realised that isn't a name with any gravitas attached to it, either!
Posted by: carol-ann liverpool 17 Mar 2008 20:01:45
Whilst I referred on another thread to a politician choosing to 'adopt' a name other than his given name and my indication on that thread that I felt this had clandestine undertones, I would fully understand if David Prescott should he choose to change his family name by deed poll to another name for whatever reason he should wish to proffer.
It does indicate the willingness to follow a parent or parents into the ‘family business,’ a business where there are no personal financial risks but many financial rewards; David Prescott is described as a public relations director who is active in London Labour politics in Greenwich, he also spends a lot of time in Hull; well there you go, what better credentials could you have to seek employment as an MP?
Clearly as with councillors the offspring of MPs view payment for very little work with their performance assessed every four or five years as a better option to work in the real world where performance is measured daily, weekly, monthly and annually.
Posted by: Peter, Fife 17 Mar 2008 16:48:51
Good - as someone who was born and raised in Hull - the Prescott's have long been an embarrassment.
Posted by: Chris, Baildon 17 Mar 2008 16:40:17
Shame, a Coronation goes wrong, Labour are losing their grip.
Posted by: Mentor - Northumberland 17 Mar 2008 16:10:55
Or you could light up the [Catherine Wheel] and say [Here Comes The Fat Controller]!
Posted by: Khalid 17 Mar 2008 15:52:32