Prescott’s son loses safe seat
John Prescott’s son has failed to win the candidacy for his father’s safe Labour seat.
David Prescott, 37, lost out to local barrister Karl Turner in a seven-way selection battle for the seat of Hull East.
Mr Prescott senior has held the seat for 38 years but plans to stand down at the next general election, due in 2008 or 2009.
It is expected that he will enter the House of Lords, having served as deputy leader of the Labour party and deputy prime minister for ten years.
He stood down from the front bench in June, choosing to leave parliament alongside Tony Blair.
Mr Prescott junior congratulated Mr Turner, 37, and gave him his fall backing.
“[I] hope that he will build a mass membership party [and] support our candidates in the forthcoming local election,” he said.
Mr Prescott continued: “All I ever wanted was to get to the final hustings to put my case to the members on how I wanted to build on the successes that Labour have achieved.
“This has been an unbelievable journey and I’m honoured to have had the chance to stand for my hometown.”
Mr Turner said the former deputy prime minister would be a “formidable act to follow”.
