Interviewed in today's Times, John Prescott vows to see out a third term as deputy prime minister.

"I still get a buzz out of this job...and I'll tell Tony Blair what I think is right; that is why I was elected deputy leader," he says.

The deputy prime minister also justifies his loyalty to Blair.

"I can't say I've ended up as New Labour but leave that aside. I give Blair my loyalty because I'm his deputy and because I think he deserves it.

"Like all prime ministers he has his difficulties from time to time but I think he is quite a courageous guy, he makes his decisions and argues the case. He has also been elected twice on amazing majorities which no one else has been able to achieve."

When questioned about deputising for Tony Blair while he is on holiday, Prescott says: "No one ever claims to actually run the country, do they?

"[Tony's] on holiday. It's not my job to keep bothering him about things I can handle myself.

"I remember one year when I had to ring him, he was rescuing somebody from the sea. I knew he was Superman and everything when he said, 'Hang on a second, I'm pulling this guy out of the water' - I should have asked him if he was walking on it at the time."