Sir christopher: 'Red-socked fop?'

John Prescott has called for the resignation of Sir Christopher Meyer as chairman of the independent Press Complaints Commission.

In a blunt letter to the press chief, the deputy prime minister strongly criticises his decision to publish the controversial 'DC Confidential' memoirs recounting his time as ambassador in the US.

In the wake of near universal criticism of Sir Christopher's disclosures, Prescott says he can no longer be an "honest broker" in media complaints.

Sir Christopher's book, which was serialised in the Guardian and the Daily Mail, includes criticism of ministers including Prescott, foreign secretary Jack Straw and the prime minister.

It also includes references to John Major's underwear - observations dismissed as "tittle-tattle" by Prescott.

Attack

In a sideswipe at the former British ambassador to Washington, Prescott says Sir Christopher was branded a "red-socked fop" by US politicians.

The letter, seen by several Sunday newspapers, suggests that Sir Christopher should stand down from the chairmanship of the PCC.

"How can I or others criticised in your book, come to the PCC in future and expect impartiality when you have made it quite clear you are anything but?" writes Prescott.

"How can you now hope to be an 'honest broker' at the PCC if people suspect they may feature in any future literary effort on your part?

"Furthermore, how can you carry out your obligations to prevent intrusion into peoples' private-lives when you are content to publish tittle-tattle on John Major's underwear?

"These are serious questions, especially when one takes into account that you waited until after you were re-appointed at the PCC before sitting down with the newspapers and negotiating serialisation deals on your book."

Double standards

The damning letter goes on to accuse Sir Christopher, who gave the £250,000 raised through serialisation to charity, of double standards.

"I am alarmed that you are perfectly happy to profit from tittle-tattle, betraying confidences and by character assassination - the kind of behaviour you at the PCC should be protecting the public from," the deputy prime minister says.

And taking personal aim at the man who accused him of lacking confidence and knowledge of foreign affairs, Prescott adds: "As far as your reputation in Washington goes, I later learned that many on Capitol Hill referred to you as the 'red-socked fop'. But this of course is tittle-tattle."

The deputy prime minister also asks whether Sir Christopher will profit personally from his betrayal of confidence.

"Money from the deal will be donated to a trust or charity (one closely associated with your family, I understand). But what about the profits you stand to make from book sales generated by the media attention you so deliberately manufactured?" he asks.

Sir Christopher, who has confirmed he will keep money generates through sales of the book has rejected Prescott's criticism.