Prescott Questioned Regarding Casino Controversy

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has been in the middle of a controversy following his supposed'sleep-over' for one night at the estate of casino lobbyist and US tycoon Philip Anschutz. The stay at the private Colorado ranch took place summer of 2005, during the deputy prime minister's nine-day trip to the US.

The US tycoon is the owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group or AEG, the firm that runs the Millennium Dome. The Millennium Dome was handed to AEG in 2004 in return for a cut in future profits that it will generate from its use as an entertainment complex. The dome is one of two venues in London vying for a casino license. Moreover, the dome is one of the 8 short-listed locations where Britain's first super casino may be built.

Anschutz and Prescott allegedly convened at the time when Anschutz was lobbying for the government to grant license for the super casino.

Deputy Prime Minister Prescott denied that there was any conflict of interest, adding that he and Anschutz did not discuss any government business. However, it is clear that during the time of his visit, he had ultimate ministerial responsibility for the regeneration of the Millennium Dome.

"My contact with Philip Anschutz relates solely to the Dome post-sale in terms of the regeneration of the area, " he said in a statement. "...And Mr Anschutz's interest in William Wilberforce, a former Hull MP and slavery abolitionist about whom Mr Anschutz is making a film, as I am personally involved in the 2007 abolition bicentenary."

Although the responsibility of assigning the location of the super casino falls under the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, it was the duty of the deputy prime ministers former department to oversee planning policy for casinos.

The Conservative's shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire has tagged the revelation as'very compromising' and said that the government should divulge the exact nature of the talks. He also added during culture questions in the Commons Monday, that the process for granting regional casino licenses was "mired in chaos, confusion and disarray".

Culture minister Richard Caborn dismissed Swire's dialogue as a'load of rubbish', defending the panel by saying that it was a "transparent system", easily accessible to to government and the DCMS.

Swire retorted, "Does the minister in his own words consider it transparent and at arms length that senior government ministers are being entertained on the estates of American casino operators?" "Will he act urgently to ensure complete and full disclosure of the facts to ensure public confidence and transparency in the process?" he added.

Caborn labeled Swire's comments as "absolutely disgraceful". He added that "the deputy prime minister... had no role in planning, had no role in negotiations, and has had no role in the siting of casinos... It's totally untrue and unfounded and the only thing that's been brought into disrepute is the member opposite."

A spokesman for the deputy prime minister said that there was "no requirement to declare the stay as there was no benefit to the deputy prime minister".

The conservatives have called for the parliamentary commissioner for standards to look into Prescott's trip.