Casino Swiss

Prescott Gifts to be Investigated

British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is facing allegations that he received thousands of pounds worth of gifts while on the controversial stay on the US ranch of casino tycoon Philip Anschutz.

Prescott is to be investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner on Standards, dubbed the'watchdog', Sir Philip Mawer. The investigation has widened its berth to include the gifts in addition to looking into the nature of Prescott and Anschutz's relationship. The two reportedly met several times while negotiations for the Millennium Dome bid was ongoing, all of them undeclared.

Anschutz is the owner of the Millennium Dome and is bidding for it to be turned into Britain's first super casino.

Prescott now has to answer to Mawer with regards to the gifts. He was reportedly given by the casino magnate an elaborate Wild West outfit during his Colorado ranch stay, and discovered more recently, free football tickets in 2004. Prescott has declined to comment on the gifts, only saying that the gifts would be declared in an annual statement by the and of July as usual.

Mawer is already looking into the matter, and is investigating on whether ministerial codes were broken by Prescott by going to the ranch in the first place.