Prescott suffering from pneumonia

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Mr Prescott has been moved to a high-dependency unit, but a spokesman stressed that this was not because his condition had deteriorated, but in order to allow him to be monitored more closely.

The 69-year-old has spent three nights in hospital since falling ill on Saturday.

In a statement, Mr Prescott's spokesman said: "The Deputy Prime Minister's Office has ... confirmed that the Deputy Prime Minister is suffering from pneumonia.

"He has been moved to a high-dependency unit, not because of a deterioration in his condition but so that his condition can be monitored more closely."

The DPM's office has so far declined to name the hospital where he is being treated. However, it has been widely reported that he was taken to University College Hospital in London after being taken ill on a train journey from his Hull constituency to King's Cross.

He was given tests for a suspected chest infection, which was not said to be life-threatening.

The confirmation that he is suffering from pneumonia means he will almost certainly spend more nights in hospital, and will be unable to chair Cabinet on Thursday, when Tony Blair will be at the G8 summit in Germany.

Downing Street said that a decision would be announced on who would chair the meeting in Mr Prescott's absence, sparking speculation that it may be Chancellor Gordon Brown's first opportunity to take the central seat at the Cabinet table ahead of his elevation to Prime Minister later this month.

Mr Prescott, who will leave office along with Prime Minister Tony Blair on June 27, has generally enjoyed robust health in his 10 years as DPM, with only a few bouts of illness. He has suffered from Type 2 diabetes for a number of years, which he manages with medication. His condition was made public in 2002.