John Prescott faced further embarrassment last night after it was claimed that he had described George Bush as "crap" in a private meeting with Labour MPs.

The deputy prime minister criticised the US president when he met six backbenchers to discuss the terror crisis on Tuesday. Harry Cohen, MP for Leyton and Wanstead, told the Independent Mr Prescott had called Mr Bush "crap".

Last night one of those present at the meeting told the Guardian: "He used disparaging remarks but I think Harry has been very foolish to relay that. It was a private meeting where he [Mr Prescott] was forthright, put it that way."

Mr Prescott said in a statement last night: "This is an inaccurate report of a private conversation and it is not my view." His spokeswoman would not be drawn further. "We never comment on private discussions and private meetings," she said.

Mr Prescott held talks with four Muslim MPs, as well as Mr Cohen and Neil Gerrard, MP for Walthamstow, whose constituencies have large Muslim populations. Some of the 24 arrests last week were in Mr Gerrard's constituency.

According to some of those present, Mr Prescott also discussed the police operation with the MPs and said some of those arrested would be released without charge.

The row is further damage to Mr Prescott, who has been in charge of Whitehall while Tony Blair has been on holiday. But he has played second fiddle to John Reid, the home secretary, during the terror alert.

The revelation will disappoint Mr Blair, the US president's key international ally. And it will do nothing for Mr Prescott's prickly relationship with the media, not least because the story surfaced in an article by his biographer, Colin Brown.

But the view Mr Prescott expressed privately is standard among Labour backbenchers and is held widely in the cabinet. Colleagues inside the parliamentary party are likely to be more critical of Mr Cohen for breaking ranks.

source: www.guardian.co.uk

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