Get behind Brown, dissenters told

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Mr Prescott also told an audience at the Hay Festival in mid Wales that Mr Brown was the "best man" to deal with the economic problems the country faced.

While the former Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged the Labour Party was going through a difficult period following rejection at the local elections and the Crewe and Nantwich by-election, he said he was confident that the poor poll results could be transformed.

"People have written off the Labour Party time and time again over the last 18 years," said Mr Prescott. "That is not to say we haven't got a difficult situation - we have. People have given us a good kicking."

While he admitted the abolition of the 10p tax rate had "caused problems", he said the current high food and petrol prices could not be blamed on the Government.

He added: "I think Gordon is the best man to deal with these problems."

Mr Prescott said his experience of being a Labour politician during years of opposition of the 1970s and 80s taught him that you "pay a heavy price if you don't get behind your leader".

However, when asked about Foreign Secretary David Miliband - the man rumoured to be the strongest challenger to Mr Brown's leadership - Mr Prescott said: "He is quite a brilliant man and he will be one of our leaders."

Mr Prescott was speaking to Guardian journalist John Harris for an hour inside a packed marquee about his autobiography, Prezza, My Story: Pulling no Punches.

Mr Prescott said he believed former Prime Minister Tony Blair may still play a part in bringing peace to the Middle East in his role as a special envoy, despite his involvement in the Iraq war, after highlighting his efforts in helping to negotiate a cessation of hostilities in Northern Ireland.