ImageJohn Prescott is emerging as the diplomat of New Labour. Certainly not something one would have expected. In his memoirs, he says that he hosted “hundreds” of reconcilitaory meetings and phone calls between Blair and Brown in order to prevent the breakout of outright hostility between the two most powerful men in the Cabinet.

Eventually, however, even the paragon of patience that is John Prescott lost his cool with the pair of them and threw a gauntlet down in front of both of them:

He urged Blair to sack Brown as Chancellor.

And told Brown to resign and fight a leadership campaign from the backbenches.

But, of course, neither happened - because at heart both Blair and Brown are cowards. Blair wouldn’t dare sack, or even move Brown sideways. And Brown wouldn’t dare risk his six-figure salary and perks for the chance to take Blair on in a leadership battle.

They should have listened to Preza. For the good of the country, one of these things should have happened if Prescott’s tale of life at the top of Labour government is anywhere near correct. As New Lbour was always about power rather than principles, that was never gonna happen.