United Kingdom
Prescott in fresh casino row
News Onlline (UK, 4 July 2006 )
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has said he met the American billionaire bidding to turn the Millennium Dome into a super casino on seven separate occasions.
Mr Prescott said that the meetings with Philip Anschutz took place over a three-year period, culminating in a visit to the tycoon's Colorado ranch last July.
But he strongly denied that they had discussed the sale of the Dome - which was bought by Mr Anschutz's company the Anschutz Entertainment Group, in 2002 - or the award of casino licences.
"I can categorically confirm that no discussion took place about the sale of the Dome (indeed contracts had been signed three years earlier), nor about the awarding of regional casino licences," he said.
The details were disclosed in a letter to shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire who has been pressing him over the visit.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer, confirmed that he was considering a complaint from Mr Swire that Mr Prescott failed to declare the stay at the tycoon's ranch in the Register of Members' Interests.
Mr Prescott has strongly denied claims that his stay with Mr Anschutz represented a conflict of interests as he has no role in the Government's policy on casinos or the award of casino licences.
In his letter to Mr Swire, he said: "I totally reject the allegations that have been made in the press, and that you repeat, that draw into question the transparency and independence of the decisions made in respect of the Dome or an application for a regional casino.
"I played no role with any planning decision relating to the Dome, or in any negotiations with Philip Anschutz for the sale of the Dome, which were carried out by Lord Falconer at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and which were completed in May 2002."
He disclosed that his first meeting with Mr Anschutz took place three months later in August 2002 in London. As at their subsequent meetings, civil servants were present at all times, he said. | End |
