UK Deputy PM: Bush Admin Is Crap...

In a private meeting with British and Muslim officials, United Kingdom Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott described the Bush administration with one word: crap.

Although his office would neither confirm nor deny Prescott's use of the word "crap," British MP Harry Cohen verified the remark. The comment may cause diplomatic tensions, but will probably please many British politicians who are angry that Prime Minister Tony Blair backed the United States during negotiations over the recent Middle East conflict. Prescott has been accused of criticizing the Bush administration before, and is friendly with Al Gore. Although he has been hesitant to publicly break with Blair's position on the Middle East violence, Prescott is under increasing pressure to recall Parliament to debate the crisis, even though diplomats have already agreed on a cease-fire.

John Prescott has given vent to his private feelings about the Bush presidency, summing up George Bush's administration in a single word: crap.

The Deputy Prime Minister's condemnation of President Bush and his approach to the Middle East could cause a diplomatic row but it will please Labour MPs who are furious about Tony Blair's backing of the United States over the bombing of Lebanon.

The remark is said to have been made at a private meeting in Mr Prescott's Whitehall office on Tuesday with Muslim MPs and other Labour MPs with constituencies representing large Muslim communities. Muslim MPs wanted to press home their objections to British foreign policy and discuss ways of improving relations with the Muslim communities.

Some of the MPs present said yesterday they could not remember Mr Prescott making the remark. He has been at pains to avoid breaking ranks with Mr Blair in public although he is believed to have raised concern about the bombing of Lebanon at a private meeting of the Cabinet. But Harry Cohen, the MP whose constituency includes Walthamstow, scene of some of the police raids in the alleged "terror plot" investigation, said Mr Prescott had definitely used the word "crap" about the Bush administration.

"He was talking in the context of the 'road map' in the Middle East. He said he only gave support to the war on Iraq because they were promised the road map. But he said the Bush administration had been crap on that.