Blair has backed up his second in command by saying Prescott will be stepping in for him “as normal” come next month. Blair also says he does not see anything wrong with Prescotts relationship with casino tycoon Philip Anschutz.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended his deputy, claiming that there is no evidence that John Prescott has done anything wrong in his controversial link with American billionaire and casino tycoon Philip Anschutz.

Prescott has been accused of pushing for the approval of the Millennium Dome to be the site of Britain’’s super casino, a property owned by Anschutz.

Blair indicated that he would be standing by his deputy, and he also dismissed calls from the Parliament for an enquiry that is handled by him.

Blair added that Prescott would be standing in for him “as normal” come next month, when he is scheduled to take his vacation.

“Let me just check my facts on this, but my understanding is that the planning is done by the local council and the mayor, so… has anybody got any actual evidence that John has interfered in this process in an improper way?” Blair said during his interview on BBC one’’s The Politics Show.

“I haven”t seen any. I mean I”ve seen hoards of newspaper allegations about something to do with cowboy boots and some belt or something,” he added.

“This is a group that… has put together UK Pounds 5bn investment around the dome. It will create somewhere in the region of 20,000 jobs, over 10,000 houses, affordable houses, in London,” Blair said in reference to Anschutz Entertainment Group, the firm bidding for the Super Casino License.

“That whole area of London is going to be regenerated. Why, why should we not want him to come and do this?”