John Prescott: Why I can't hug my two sons
LORD Prescott has revealed he regrets not spending more time with his children as they grew up due to the demands of public office.
In an appearance on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the former Hull East MP and deputy prime minister spoke about his role as a father.
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INTERVIEW: Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The Labour peer and prospective Humberside police and crime commissioner candidate said his English reserve left him unable to hug his adult sons.
"I was a bit detached as a father – not indifferent, but kind of detached," he said.
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"That comes from a background, a culture.
"I've got two brilliant sons and I love them to death, but to my great regret I cannot somehow put my arms around my sons.
"I don't know where it comes from, but I very much regret that I never had that.
"I think that's part of British culture and that was reflected a bit in me and I'm sad about that."
He said he "couldn't quite understand" when he saw Tony Blair and Gordon Brown on their hands and knees playing with their children, but this changed with the arrival of his granddaughter Ava Grace in 2009.
"Then I was on my hands and knees chasing her around," he said. "She is a great pleasure to us and I realised the kind of feelings that grandparents can have and the relationship with the grandchild that does develop."
In the interview, Lord Prescott also admitted his guilt over his affair with secretary Tracey Temple and said he realised he had not been treating his wife Pauline as she deserved.
"I made the terrible mistake of underestimating her intelligence and ability and interest in things," he said.
"I would shout a lot and it was wrong. She is a remarkable woman and I underestimated that and it became a marriage where one was always dominant. It was give and take and I was always more on the take than the giving."
Ex-Met Police commissioner backs John Prescott's election bid
Comments
by Weekslider
Friday, February 24 2012, 4:54AM
“Caption to photo should read "This is the thickness of my wage packet..."”
by poodledoodle2
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 6:02PM
“I was assuming his lads where fellow champagne socialist who'd grown too fat for Prezza to embrace due them being like father, like son & having their snouts in the trough.....”
by ossietta
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 4:23PM
“Buornfree could you please explain you post in English! "lol" and not your native Swedish!”
by buornfree
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 11:15AM
“He made the choice of his job so dont start crying now over spillet milk”
by ossietta
Monday, February 20 2012, 11:00PM
“Couple of years ago one his sons phoned for a bouquet of flowers for mother's day.He rang from London and he wanted the flowers delivered early as his mother and his father were going away.He rang back to say his father would collect them. John Prescott drew up in his jaguar, swanned in wearing a big black overcoat,big black sunglasse. Took the bouquet, swanned out, open the boot of the jaguar and tossed the flowers in, chuntering and chowing as he got in the car. ( I think he expected them for nought!) He had certainly passed on his greedy gene to his son, as his son had only ordering a measly £20 bouquet for his mother!”
by AstonomiaSK
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:24PM
“Perhaps if the Mail started digging in to the past they might come up with a real story on Prezza's sons? Didn't one work for the Mail a while back? Did'nt one build a lot of houses on Council land a few years back. I'll have to start digging around Private Eye back issues!”
by Mickey_Luv
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:03PM
“... and when did this Welshman start having English reserve?”
by Mickey_Luv
Monday, February 20 2012, 7:01PM
“Photo caption for Prescott Monday *
" I want the burger THIS big sunshine, oh I will need a receipt as well"”
by David_Nivea
Monday, February 20 2012, 6:04PM
“"I was always more on the take than the giving."
Socialism encapsulated.”
by HullCommuter
Monday, February 20 2012, 6:02PM
“Does he hug his two jags?”