Prescott denies Blair is 'slackening off' - and says he will continue with reforms despite difficulties

Tony Blair is not "slackening off" despite speculation about his future, John Prescott said yesterday.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Mr Blair would carry on "making his case" despite the problems of the Hutton inquiry and backbench opposition over university top-up fees.

Mr Prescott told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "I do not find him slacking. He is certainly going to go on and make his case.

"This is the man who wants to go on and make his changes. He has had tremendous victories. You do get into difficulties from time to time but this man is not slackening off.

"He is arguing his case with people and going into that with the public and the parliamentary Labour party. We will be going into the election saying this is a successful government which has delivered on economic policy and jobs and employment."

Mr Prescott ridiculed the decision of the Conservative leader, Michael Howard, to publish a two-page statement of his "positive beliefs" on New Year's Day.

Those beliefs, which the Tory leader said would form the basis of his challenge at the next election, included principles that "people are most likely to be happy when they are masters of their own lives", that red tape should be minimised, that there should be equality of opportunity, and that we should "look after those who cannot help themselves". Mr Howard said he did not believe that one person's poverty was caused by another's wealth. But Mr Prescott said Mr Howard's unusual ploy was an attempt to distract the electorate: "He has to be judged against his record not his dreams. Howard's way is about dreams, not the past record of nightmares."

Mr Prescott also insisted the public was not worried about him being in charge while Mr Blair was on holiday in Egypt.

But the Deputy Prime Minister expressed concern about calls from Radio 4 listeners for a law giving people greater rights to protect their property. He said the Government could not ignore people's concerns about security but said Parliament would not agree to a "vigilante law".

He also dismissed a suggestion that the public was worried about him being in charge while Mr Blair was on holiday.