WHILE his boss was discussing matters of world importance such as weapons of mass destruction with The Northern Echo on a flight between London and Newcastle, Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was scuffling in the gutter with the media again during a trip to the North-East.

Mr Prescott has never had any love for the media. In stark contrast, the media loves John Prescott because he's always liable to put his foot - or his hand - in it.

The man dubbed Two Jags, Two Jabs and Prezza by the national tabloids was on Tyneside the day after giving the media another field day.

He'd made a behind-the-back V-sign at journalists outside Downing Street as he arrived for a Cabinet meeting to discuss the euro.

While drawing short of the Daily Mirror's headline verdict that he is a "yob", we take the view that Mr Prescott's judgement isn't always sound.

Although he made light of his gesture yesterday, Deputy Prime Ministers simply cannot go around making offensive signs in public, let alone in front of the most famous front door in Britain.

This Government has placed special emphasis on its handling - many would call it manipulation - of the media and Cabinet ministers receive expensive training on how to manage Press attention. Mr Prescott was presumably on holiday when the course was held.

With so much talk of weapons of mass destruction in the air, Mr Prescott's blunder has to be kept in context. But Mr Blair must be increasingly aware that he has a loose cannon of his own to defuse.