I have a lot more to do I think but at my age anyway I would just want to get on with the job

John Prescott

But he told BBC One's Breakfast With Frost programme that he had no plans to quit - although he no longer wanted the top job in the Labour Party.

"I'm very happy in what I'm doing, I'm certainly happy working with Tony Blair and getting on with the job we have committed ourselves to do - so just a load of press prattle," said Mr Prescott.

He added: "But I certainly wouldn't want to stand for the leadership of the party again."

Mr Prescott, now 63, ran for leader in 1994 after the death of John Smith.

'Honoured'

Mr Blair won but Mr Prescott beat Margaret Beckett - now agriculture secretary - into third place.

"I have a lot more to do I think but at my age anyway I would just want to get on with the job, I'm delighted doing what I'm doing, and I think I still have a lot of energy," Mr Prescott added.

"I'm happy, by the way, to be the deputy leader of the party, that's something that is very important to me, and I enjoy doing as much as the deputy prime minister's job, which I'm very honoured to have."