Fist fighting, straight-talking former deputy prime minister John Prescott MP certainly made an impression as the guest speaker at the annual IPF Midlands' dinner in Birmingham last week.
Yes, old 'two Jags' himself must have wondered if "Things Can Only Get Better," after a disastrous 30 minute speech in front of the 600 assembled guests at the ICC.
The room was astounded as Prezza not only insulted fellow Labour (Brummie) MP Clare Short by calling her "a moving mountain of flesh and hair," he then went on to call former prime minister and fellow colleague Gordon Brown a "miserable bugger."
Not content with slating his former colleagues, Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull then decided to have a pop at the host city saying that Birmingham was a "terrible motorway city," and that it was "all about the cars." After receiving long and loud boos from the audience Prescott quickly backtracked saying the city had since seen major regeneration which gave it a heart.
Talking endlessly about his personal and Labour's perceived achievements while in government earned him a slow hand clap.
Prescott then desperately tried to turn the frosty atmosphere around by saying that "property could make a difference if bankers got off their backsides and lent some money." Oh dear, seeing as the room was full of bankers and Lloyds Bank was one of the sponsors - which had paid for his attendance - that comment didn't go down well either.
GBR Phoenix Beard director and outgoing IPF chairman Simon Robinson, who booked Prescott for the evening, was last seen looking rather sheepish in the ICC bar...
Image courtesy of The Lakelander via Fickr.com
