Labour to give John Prescott a frontline general election role

‘Ed Miliband is bringing the former deputy prime minister, John Prescott, back into frontline politics only months before May’s general election.

In a controversial move, the Labour leader has appointed Lord Prescott as his personal adviser with specific responsibility for climate change. His remit, according to aides, is to “bash heads together”.

The eye-catching development comes as an Opinium/Observer poll shows that the Conservatives have edged ahead of Labour for the first time in three years, apparently confirming a trend seen in other polls in recent weeks.’

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