Prescott does not rule out police role

Lord Prescott, the Labour peer and former Hull MP, said he believes that “being known may be a plus” for anyone deciding to run in the elections to take control of one of country’s 43 police forces, due to be held in November.

Speculation is now growing that he may put himself forward as a Labour candidate to run Humberside Police, which has a budget of £1.4bn.

Declining to comment on whether he will run for the post, Lord Prescott would only say: “The commissioners are going to be people who have some influence, and I can’t help but feel the personalities of the individuals will be important.

“I think it will be a challenge. The question is, what would the public say about particular individuals who were looking to stand?

“Given it’s an election that many of the electorate don’t think is important, being known may well be a plus.”

The introduction of elected, high profile figures to oversee each of Britain’s 43 police forces is one of the Conservatives’ flagship policies, designed to bring local accountability to policing.

However, many of the best-known rumoured candidates are Labour MPs.

Former Home Secretary and Sheffield MP David Blunkett has repeatedly refused to rule himself out of the running, amidst widespread speculation he will put himself forward for the commissioner’s role in South Yorkshire.

And former Home Office minister Hazel Blears is believed to be considering a candidacy in her native North West.