Sleaze Watchdogs Rule on Prescott: Guilty

Sleaze watchdogs have found John Prescott guilty of a potential conflict of interest over his stay at the ranch of a super casino bidder as well as receiving gifts from him.

The'verdict' was given in a damaging report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Sir Philip Mawer. The commissioner found that Prescott has indeed broken strict ministerial rules by failing to immediately declare the visit officially.

The investigation against Prescott was sparked when it became public that he received hospitality from super casino bidder Philip Anschutz, owner of the Millennium Dome in London.

Blair received renewed calls to hold an inquiry after Prescott was forced to admit that he broke rules that clearly outline that ministers should not accept hospitality from any figure who might "be thought likely" to influence them.

Prescott used the defense that he kept his senior aide in the know about the trip, however was advised that it needed not be registered since the trip was official. Prescott registered the trip 11 months late, as he stayed at the ranch July of 2005.

It is believed that he was able to escape sanction because of this. Prime Minister Tony Blair, however was advised to launch an independent investigation, which he rejected saying that he has not yet seen evidence of Prescott committing any wrongdoing with his relationship to Anschutz.