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Prescott in Council of Europe job | Prescott in Council of Europe job |
(30 minutes later) | |
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott is to become a British representative to the Council of Europe, it has been announced. | Former deputy prime minister John Prescott is to become a British representative to the Council of Europe, it has been announced. |
Mr Prescott, who remains an MP after stepping down from government last week, will take an unpaid role on the Parliamentary Assembly of the council. | Mr Prescott, who remains an MP after stepping down from government last week, will take an unpaid role on the Parliamentary Assembly of the council. |
He will replace Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd, who is stepping down. | He will replace Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd, who is stepping down. |
The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, was established in 1949 to promote human rights and freedoms. | The Council of Europe, based in Strasbourg, was established in 1949 to promote human rights and freedoms. |
Mr Prescott, 69, who suffers from diabetes, was treated in hospital for pneumonia last month. | Mr Prescott, 69, who suffers from diabetes, was treated in hospital for pneumonia last month. |
He remains at his grace-and-favour home at Admiralty House, near Trafalgar Square, while he searches for a new home. | He remains at his grace-and-favour home at Admiralty House, near Trafalgar Square, while he searches for a new home. |
"Following his recent illness, [Mr Prescott] is making the necessary arrangements to move out of his official residence," PM Gordon Brown said in a Commons written reply on Wednesday. | "Following his recent illness, [Mr Prescott] is making the necessary arrangements to move out of his official residence," PM Gordon Brown said in a Commons written reply on Wednesday. |
Translation 'challenge' | Translation 'challenge' |
The post - which although unpaid includes expenses - means Mr Prescott will also sit on the Assembly of Western European Union, an assembly for security and defence. | |
A former MEP, Mr Prescott held a similar position on the Council of Europe in the 1970s. | A former MEP, Mr Prescott held a similar position on the Council of Europe in the 1970s. |
Shadow Europe minister Mark Francois congratulated Mr Prescott - once voted the public figure who most mangled the English language - and wished the translators luck. | Shadow Europe minister Mark Francois congratulated Mr Prescott - once voted the public figure who most mangled the English language - and wished the translators luck. |
"I understand that the skilled translators they employ are used to reproducing speeches in a whole range of languages, but I suspect John Prescott is about to present them with a challenge, the like of which they have never seen before," he said. | "I understand that the skilled translators they employ are used to reproducing speeches in a whole range of languages, but I suspect John Prescott is about to present them with a challenge, the like of which they have never seen before," he said. |
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