Corbyn suspends Prescott’s son over allegations of harassment
JOHN Prescott’s son has been suspended as the Shadow Cabinet’s communications boss over harassment claims, it emerged last night.
David Prescott has been a key member of Jeremy Corbyn’s inner circle, having also worked as his speechwriter.
But Mr Corbyn’s office last night said Mr Prescott had been suspended under standard employment practices after it received a complaint about his conduct.
It came just days after his father Lord Prescott, who once admitted a two-year affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, while he was deputy prime minister, wrote a newspaper column on Sunday titled, ‘How I’d sort out the MPs sex pest scandal’.
Mr Prescott’s suspension follows news yesterday that Mr Corbyn hired a Momentum activist with a conviction for election fraud to work in his parliamentary office.
Marsha- Jane Thompson had been sentenced to 100 hours of community service for registering fake voters.
Asked about Mr Prescott, Mr Corbyn’s spokesman said: ‘ We do not comment on staffing matters.’
Labour staff first learned that Mr Prescott was not at work when they received an email from Mr Corbyn’s team on Tuesday saying he would not attend a weekly communications meeting.
Mr Prescott was a regular presence at Mr Corbyn’s side through the general election campaign in June after he failed to be selected as the party’s candidate in Hull West and Hessle. He stood in Gainsborough in the 2015 election, when Tory incumbent Sir Edward Leigh won.
It is understood that Mr Prescott had been seeking selecton in the key marginal seat of Mansfield, which Labour lost for the first time since 1923 in June by just over 1,000 votes.
In his Sunday newspaper column last weekend, Lord Prescott said ‘the welcome rise in the number of female MPs has changed the maledominated atmosphere’. However, he added: ‘But the problem is there remains a conflict that discourages staff members from making complaints against their bosses. ‘MPs are technically selfemployed and the sole employer of their staff. That makes it harder for employees to put in complaints. They fear they won’t be believed and they’ll be sacked.’ There was never any suggestion that Lord Prescott’s affair was not consensual. A Labour spokesman said: ‘The party takes all complaints of sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination extremely seriously. ‘When evidence of misconduct comes to light, all appropriate disciplinary action is taken in line with the party’s rule book and procedures.’ Mr Prescott did not respond to requests for comment.