Prescott admitted to hospital
John Prescott has been admitted to hospital with a suspected chest infection, his spokesman has confirmed.
The deputy prime minister, 69, is undergoing some tests at the hospital although his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.
Mr Prescott’s spokesman said: “He has been admitted to hospital. He is undergoing tests as a result of a suspected chest infection.”
The deputy prime minister has recently returned from a trip to the Caribbean and celebrated his 69th birthday last week.
In 2002 it became known that Mr Prescott suffered from type 2 diabetes and managed the condition with medication.
He will be stepping down as deputy leader of the Labour party at the end of this month after Tony Blair announced his departure.
Hustings for the new deputy leader are ongoing and all of the candidates took part in a debate in Glasgow yesterday.
International development secretary Hilary Benn, party chairman Hazel Blears, Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain, backbencher Jon Cruddas, education minister Alan Johnson and constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman are all in the running for the deputy leadership.
