24 or so hours on and what might we have learnt from the Government's handling of the 'Tory think tank slams north' story?

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

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Following my backyard test blog yesterday, It occurred to me that Save the Labour Party should recruit John Prescott to revive the idea of the one million member party. Where would we start?

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 MP, Bob Marshall-Andrews, is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association, but despite this, I like his maverick style. He has some honour and sense of fairness: traits not normally associated with many of his colleagues of late.

On his official website at epolitix.com, we are reminded of the unceremonious ejection of Walter Wolfgang from the 2005 Labour Conference with an article entitled, "Our PM Is Nothing But A Bully - Just Ask Old Walter."

The frail 82-year old Mr Wolfgang, who has devoted his life to the Labour Party, had the audacity to propose that Jack Straw was being less than honest about Iraq.

Mr Marshall-Andrews writes: 'For this offence Mr Wolfgang is seized by a massive, apparently anonymous "steward", physically manhandled from his own conference and detained by police as a suspected terrorist. A nearby delegate, attempting to intervene, is himself assaulted by another massive example of New Labour's finest. Hours later, Blair delivers an apology wholly typical of the man. "I'm sorry," he says, "but I wasn't there."'

John Prescott has today confessed that, for many years, while operating at the top of British politics he was suffering from the eating disorder Bulimia.

Despite receiving nominations from nine union branches, former minister Chris Leslie is believed to be stepping down from the selection in Hull East, the seat made available by the announcement of John Prescott's retirement.

It appears there is an overwhelming desire in the constituency for a local candidate.

The Daily Mail has referred to this website in an article about the retirement of John Prescott.

I have left the comment below on their site - who knows whether or not they will allow it to be published...?

Chris Leslie, former MP for Shipley has indicated that he is interested in replacing John Prescott as the Member for Hull East. Prescott is committed to staying on as MP until the next election but has said he will not seek another term.

How will the next PM deal with things like this?

The press is having some difficulty with John Prescott's reported comment on George Bush, since the standard press line is that JP is useless, but also that GB is useless, so how do they handle JP criticising GB? Er, they pretend to be shocked that he's so undiplomatic in private, and challenge him to repeat it in public.

   But the background to the story is interesting... Writes Nick Palmer MP

tyger on Ned Timko's article on today's MediaGuardian about politcal blogs

It's no use blaming malicious Tory Bloggers, Conservative HQ, or Brown's camp, for the mire John Prescott is in.  It's all John's fault.  Mudslingers soon go out of business if there isn't any mud.

Last night there was a flurry of excitement as a rumour spread by phone, internet, email and txt msg that John Prescott was to resign before midnight. It didn't happen but it is telling that such a rumour could be credible.