Yep. Yet another similarity between the Bush and Blair team. Blair's troubled Deputy PM has been in trouble for some time and this latest scandal, where he had been meeting with American wingnut extremist Philip Anschutz, may be crossed the line. The Liberal MP who is investigating this possible anti-corruption violation has some familiarity with the Blair scandal as he is leading the investigation into the "cash-for-honours" scheme under Blair.
Senior anti-fraud lawyers believe that Mr Prescott may have breached the terms of the Act, which say that ministers should not accept hospitality from a person or organisation that has obtained or is trying to obtain an official contract. They suspect Mr Prescott may have been guilty of a conflict of interest by accepting an invitation to stay at Mr Anschutz's Colorado ranch last year. Mr Prescott was last night alleged also to have received gifts from Mr Anschutz during his stay. The Mail on Sunday claims he accepted a pair of tooled leather cowboy boots, a Stetson and a silver-buckled belt bearing the initials "JP".Things aren't sounding very good for Prescott and Blair's rare loyalty during the previous scandal is bound to disappear.
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay, a Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said Mr Prescott had "clearly put himself and his civil servants in a position where there is a conflict of interest... The rules are very clear and his relationship with an American billionaire with a government contract makes his position as Deputy Prime Minister untenable," he said.
