Britain: The head of the British government's ethics watchdog urged prime minister Tony Blair yesterday to order an investigation into his deputy's links with an American billionaire who is hoping to open a casino in London.
The call coincided with a press report that environment secretary David Miliband was being lined up to replace deputy prime minister John Prescott if he resigns amid a growing furore over his contacts with US businessman Philip Anschutz.
Mr Prescott, who denies wrongdoing, is accused by some local officials and opposition politicians of abusing his power to assist oil and entertainment mogul Mr Anschutz in an attempt to open a casino at London's Millennium Dome.
Mr Prescott is being investigated by parliament's standards commissioner over a visit he made to Mr Anschutz's Colorado ranch and whether it should have been declared.
Alastair Graham, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said Mr Blair should ask John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, to investigate whether Mr Prescott had broken the government's ministerial code of conduct.
"It does seem to me when these issues relate to a central aspect of government policy in terms of casinos, the future of the dome, planning issues like that, it would be much better to clear the air by invoking the procedure to ask Sir John Bourn to carry out an investigation," Mr Graham said.
The Mail on Sunday newspaper reported that Mr Anschutz had given Mr Prescott expensive cowboy boots and a Stetson hat when he visited the ranch a year ago. The code of conduct bars ministers from accepting gifts or hospitality that might place them under an obligation.
A spokesman for the deputy prime minister said any gifts received would be published in accordance with the rules at the end of July.