Prescott confirms decision to quit

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In an open letter to his constituency party, he said: "As I informed you and the East Hull Executive a couple of weeks ago, I intend to stand down as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

"I also gave written notice to the National Executive Committee officers and the General Secretary of the Labour Party two weeks ago that it was my intention not to continue as the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.

"Tony and I were elected together back in 1994 and it has been an honour to serve as Deputy to the most successful Labour Prime Minister ever.

"To have been Deputy Leader and the longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister is a matter of great pride to me."

Mr Prescott had earlier made clear his intention to step down alongside the Prime Minister at a meeting of the Cabinet.

He first revealed that he would quit at last year's annual party conference in Manchester after being beset by a series of controversies.

There will be a hard-fought contest to succeed him, with a number of high-profile candidates set to join the battle.

Labour's General Secretary, Peter Watt, said Mr Prescott had been "a superb deputy leader".

"He is first and foremost a 'Party man'. As General Secretary, it has been a pleasure to work with 'JP'. He has never shied away from making sure that the Party's view is represented at the highest level and he always stands up for what he believes in."