JOHN PRESCOTT EXCLUSIVE: MY TWO YEAR AFFAIR
EXCLUSIVE Deputy PM admits TWO-YEAR fling with his secretary
By Stephen Moyes
JOHN Prescott last night said he deeply regretted his fling with a secretary - and admitted it had left his wife Pauline distraught.
The 67-year-old Deputy Premier confessed the fling with 43-year-old Tracey Temple, saying: "I did have a relationship with her which I regret.
"It ended some time ago. I have discussed this fully with my wife Pauline who is devastated by the news.
"I would be grateful if Pauline and I can now get on with our lives together."
The two-year affair took place during repeated meetings at Mr Prescott's grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall.
But Tracey's fellow civil servants say there was an obvious spark of attraction between her and Mr Prescott from the moment she was appointed as his Assistant Private Secretary, Diary Manager.
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He was soon regularly complimenting the attractive blonde divorcee on her clothes and even sharing saucy jokes with her in front of other Cabinet ministers.
Once he teased her about her bright red leather trousers in front of Minister for Sport Richard Caborn.
Mr Prescott was also spotted springing out in front of her while pulling a funny face to make her laugh.
His other staff began noticing he was making trips into his department - seemingly just to chat with Tracey, who lives with 46-year-old lorry driver Barrie Williams.
The level of flirting between the pair began to rise, much to the surprise of the other civil servants in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
The horseplay and suggestive remarks were transformed into a full-blown affair at the office Christmas party in 2002.
Tracey looked stunning in a revealing low-cut black cocktail dress which buttoned up at the back.
As soon as Mr Prescott arrived he jokingly lifted her skirt to see if she was wearing stockings.
The couple danced together almost all night and after many drinks allegedly confessed their sexual attraction.
After the party, some of the staff were invited back to Prescott's flat.
Tracey was eventually given a lift back to her hotel by a driver at 3.30am.
The next day Mr Prescott hosted drinks in his office for ministers, dignitaries and senior policemen. He and Tracey lay on the office settee cuddling each other.
Their affection shocked staff. One woman colleague said she had seen Tracey nuzzle Mr Prescott's neck in the lift. She said she thought it was "inappropriate".
Mr Prescott later laughed off the incident as a bit of messing about.
But three days later he was absolutely livid to find that office gossip claimed they were having an affair.
He told people it was "none of their business". And in the week afterwards he would regularly make a joke of who he got into a lift with at work in case he was accused of having an affair with them.
Eleven days after the party Mr Prescott was still at odds with one aide because he was aware they had been discussing his relationship with Tracey and "causing him problems".
By now Tracey and Mr Prescott were regularly getting together at his plush Admiralty House flat.
One of his favourite ploys was to go to the flat then call the office to say he had forgotten something - asking for Tracey to take it around. But even in the office it was becoming obvious that something was going on. At one party Mr Prescott picked up a giggling Tracey and twirled her in the air.
Then, with her legs over his shoulders, he swept her unsteadily across an impromptu dance floor.
On another occasion he was overheard complimenting the secretary on her golden holiday tan.
Mr Prescott - nicknamed Two Jags for his love of large cars - pored over Tracey's holiday photographs, stumbling over his words as he lavished praise on her good looks. In April 2002 the veteran Labour MP surprised many observers by personally inviting Tracey to escort his wife Pauline to Westminster Hall for the Queen's historic address to both Houses of Parliament.
Tracey and Pauline chatted happily in the front row of privileged VIP guests including Tony and Cherie Blair.
Tracey revelled in her privileged status and particularly enjoyed chatting to Tory MP for Wokingham, John Redwood. Days later Mr Prescott made a beeline for Tracey as he handed out roses to women staff members. And when she threatened to change jobs due to the stress of commuting to Westminster by train from her home in Bordon, Hants, Mr Prescott personally asked her to stay.
He made no secret of his affection for Tracey. When she mistakenly told Mr Prescott he had an appointment two hours earlier than it was she apologised profusely.
But to show her she was forgiven, he rubbed his hand up and down her back while she was on the telephone as if to say: "Don't worry".
Later that same day he found her in the smoking room and jokingly threw a bunch of grapes at her.
Mr Prescott also enjoyed clowning about with Tracey in front of her co-workers.
He once took a cigarette and lighter from out of Tracey's handbag and walked into the smoking room to talk to her while pretending to puff away - raising smiles from his staff.
Last year Tracey posed for pictures in front of the bus Mr Prescott used during the
General Election campaign.
Recently, she spent time alone with her boss at his luxurious 215-acre country retreat in Dorneywood, Bucks.
Before working for Mr Prescott, Tracey was Mo Mowlam's personal diary secretary.
The two women remained close friends until Ms Mowlam tragically died of cancer. Mr Prescott, who famously punched a protestor who threw an egg at him in the run up to the 2001 General Election, attracts fierce loyalty from his staff.
He is well-known for confiding some of Westminster's most delicious gossip to them.
The Deputy Prime Minister's office is also said to be a fun and lively place to work.
He is famous for his generosity towards staff - although once he gave a disgruntled colleague a birthday present of a painting he had been given days earlier.
