It Could Be "A Bumpy Ride" Says Prescott

A happy and optimistic Mr Prescott admitted he had not always agreed with the changes Mr Blair had proposed but said he had "great respect" for the Prime Minister and could not wait to get started in his new role.

Mr Prescott made it clear that although he shares his opinion with Mr Blair, it is the Prime Minister who makes the final decisions. "We have a discussion, I put my two-pennyworth in, if you like, but, at the end of the day, he is the Prime Minister, I'm a deputy...and we'll be supported by putting the programme that we've all agreed to the electorate and I think that partnership will be a successful one."

"Not as frustrating as being in opposition"

Speaking on the BBC's Breakfast with Frost programme he said that Mr Blair would be a modernising force in Britain."He wants to see a new kind of Britain going into a new millennium and he'll have as much effect on British political life as he's had in the Labour Party in the last two or three years." he said.

Mr Prescott revealed that he will be living in Admiralty Arch, which former Defence Secretary Michael Portillo had once proposed selling off. He said he was still coming to terms with his new office and was excited and exhilarated by the prospect of decision making. "I tell you what: it's not as frustrating as being in opposition." he said

The Deputy Prime Minister also promised to deliver on all the Labour election manifesto promises in the next five years, in the hope of ensuring the party's re-election for a second term. "Its a programme for government, five years...we made promises and we intend to deliver them..we want to win two elections not one" he said.

In the first year he said the focus would be on addressing the manifesto pledges for referendums on constitutional reform, including the issues of Scottish devolution, a Welsh assembly and later on decentralising to the English regions, proportional representation and reforming the House of Lords.