Prescott defends PM’s response to tsunami disaster
The British Government’s response to the Asian tsunami disaster was the quickest possible, the Deputy Prime Minister has said.
John Prescott stressed that no country had “moved as fast” as the UK in the first 24 hours of the crisis and rejected calls from Conservative leader Michael Howard, who said that Tony Blair should have returned from his family holiday in Egypt.
“I think the real point is, what is Britain doing, are we working fast enough,” Mr Prescott told the BBC.
“And I think if you look at our response rate, with the first 24 hours, I think no country moved as fast as that,” he added.
Accusing Mr Howard of trying to make a “political point” over the Prime Minister’s decision to remain in Egypt, Mr Prescott indicated that he had spoken with Tony Blair as soon as they heard of Sunday’s earthquake disaster.
Mr Blair’s deputy confirmed that an official committee had been established in London within 24 hours of the disaster and said that the Prime Minister was in contact with the emergency body “two or three times a day”.
Earlier, Mr Howard, who has called for the Government to match the £60 million worth of aid so far donated by the British people said: “If I had been in his position I would have come back – other leaders have.”
