LET'S face it, John Prescott has always been a bit of a joke.

Always likely to cause a chuckle in the Commons with his tendency to get tongue-tied, and capable of throwing a punch at a protestor, he has been an accident waiting to happen for the Government.

But until his affair with his diary secretary became public - as it was bound to - the Deputy Prime Minister had somehow managed to get away with it.

He was the balancing link with Old Labour that Tony Blair desperately needed; the traditional socialist guaranteed to put the toffs in their place.

But Mr Prescott is now a joke that has gone too far. His stupidity, not to mention his infidelity, made dreams come true for newspapers which had been waiting for a chance to wipe the floor with him.

Mr Blair made a serious error by leaving his deputy with all his perks, despite relieving him of his departmental responsibilities. It made no sense.

And yesterday's newspaper photographs, showing Mr Prescott playing croquet in the grounds of his country retreat while he was supposed to be running the country in Mr Blair's absence, will add to the national feeling that he has nothing to do.

It would all be hard to make up: the toff-basher caught playing a toff's game on his posh estate when he's supposed to be working hard to restore his shattered image.

John Prescott is a laughing-stock who should resign to allow the Government to rebuild its credibility.

If he doesn't quit, the Prime Minister has to force the issue - or leave the country wondering what he is afraid of.