Prescott Rebuked by Ethics Panel

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has received more than a "mild rebuke", contrary to what was speculated on earlier last week.

Prescott was lambasted by a Parliamentary ethics panel after it was found out that there was a potential breach in the ministerial code over his visit to the ranch of a super casino bidder.

Prescott was placed in hot water when it became public that he had a vacation in the Colorado estate of Millennium Dome owner Philip Anschutz. The billionaire is currently bidding for the licence to turn the Dome into a super casino.

"This case is a cautionary tale to ministers and highlights the need for them to think very carefully about accepting hospitality," the committee of lawmakers said in a report.

The panel left it in the hands of Prime Minister Tony Blair to launch an independent investigation to determine whether Prescott should be disciplined for breaching the ministerial ethics code.

Blair however refused the calls for a second time, saying that he sees no reason why he should.

"It is simply untenable for Blair not to launch an immediate investigation into the clear conflict of interest that has arisen," said shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire, whose complaint started the whole investigation.