I'm a harsh critic of the Government's media strategy, so it's delightful to report some good news for once...

I’ll ignore the headline figures of 45% 25% 18% for fear of repeating my previous post, but will look at some of the underlying statistics. They are equally bleak.

Just a day after John MacDougall sadly died, the journalists are already preparing their talking points for the by-election expected in October. Already it’s “make or break” for Gordon Brown we’re told, just as we were about both the Crewe and Glasgow East by-elections.

It’s nonsense of course. Just as those by-elections didn’t result in Gordon packing his bags, nor will Glenrothes. But another common refrain is also being written by the Tory press. It can be summarised by the question “where is Gordon?”

I was struck by a conversation I had with some fellow comrades at a birthday party over the weekend. Whilst it started with the usual lament over how badly things were going for Gordon at the moment but it quickly turned to an annoyance and quiet anger that the Conservatives were getting such an easy time of it.

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has returned to Labourhome to respond to some of your comments.

Click here

Politicians who wield the knife against their leaders rarely get the chance to succeed that said leader!

If David Miliband does not become Prime Minister now, he never will, and will face a decade in opposition.

At some point (weeks, months, years) Gordon will cease to be Labour Leader. What do people think his next job should be?  Is it likely, as some have suggested, that he will go into a Heath-like sulk?

A year ago I was in touch with many of you on behalf of John McDonnell MP’s campaign for the Labour leadership, a campaign in which I was very proud to have played a key role.

Let's be done with all this media speculation. It's so uplifting when a Cabinet Minister refers to the Labour Party rule book as he did in his Guardian article citing a section from Chapter 1, Clause IV (FOUR) printed on the Party card.

However painful it might be to accept, one thing is clear; Labour is currently so unpopular that no single course of action can ensure it's success at the next election. One thing can, however, guarantee it's defeat and that is leaving Gordon Brown at the helm.

The imminent departure of Gordon Brown (does anyone now doubt it?) marks the end of the Blair era of Labour politics and will give the chance we need to learn and move on.

I bet you never thought John Prescott would end up blogging but I felt this was the best way to talk to ordinary members at this important time.

writes former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott

Labour infantilises itself if it believes that another change of leader would answer its problems. Brown has made mistakes, but this has been a collective failure too. Nobody else has set out a distinctive and popular Labour argument which could reunite a winning electoral coalition.

One simple (and dare I say elegant, democratic) device open to Gordon Brown to silence the plotters would be to ask the new General Secretary Ray Collins to circulate nomination papers for Leader/Deputy to Labour Party CLPs and affiliated unions and socialist societies ahead of Conference 2008 in accordance with Party Rules.

We haven't lost - yet - but we need to face up to facts if we are going to win.

Forgive the gallows humour but after Glasgow East some may be merited. If I were the PM’s speech writer this is what I would prepare for him to deliver to the NPF at Warwick.