The barometer of political health

Of course, you know what the real barometer of the political health of the various parties in the UK is? It’s nothing to do with grass roots membership, nothing to do with popular votes, nothing to do with the results from various focus groups or polls and nothing to do with the frequency at which opposition parties manage to scupper government plans. No, the real barometer of political health in this country is the continuing employment in government office of John Prescott.

His is a scalp that should have been taken many years ago. I mean, the man beats people up, swears at reporters, insults other MPs constituents, hates property rights and is hell bent on starting his own property development empire. And there’s much more where that came from.

In more healthy political times the man would not have lasted anywhere near as long and it is a damning indictment of the opposition parties that New Labour have managed to keep hold of their mascot.

Don’t expect any great things from the opposition until they have managed to dislodge Prescott.