Find out what former deputy prime minister John Prescott was doing in Bristol
The campaign trail was in full swing this weekend with former deputy prime minister John Prescott brandishing a litter picker at a clean-up campaign in Bristol.
The political heavyweight arrived at the Straits Parade shops in Fishponds with Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy on board his Prescott Express battlebus – a white van.
His appearance is as part of a series of regional tours ahead of the General Election.
Ms McCarthy had invited 'Prezza' to the Fishponds spring clean after she met organisers Jacqui and Fiaz Ahmed during a Fairtrade event at The Base bed and breakfast which they run in Fishponds Road.
Mr Prescott soon donned a high-visibility vest and took his litter picker along the street to clear up cigarette ends, drinks cans and plastic bags.
He even stopped outside the local Conservative club and joked that he could clear up some Tory rubbish while he was there, before heading into a local park and chatting to Joseph Grant, 65, of Stapleton.
Mr Prescott had earlier defended Labour's work on cutting NHS waiting lists, reducing class sizes and taking action over the economic crisis when he addressed a group of supporters who met him outside the shops.
He backed Mr and Mrs Ahmed's efforts to clear litter and make their locality more attractive, suggesting people could take a litter picker with them as they walked the dog or went for a stroll.
Mrs Ahmed, 47, said: "The local area is looking shabby, especially with rubbish collecting in front gardens. We think if people looked after their own little space, their own front garden, the streets would look so much better."
Her husband, 38, said: "This clear-up isn't a one-off. We want to do more and encourage people to look after their own little piece of Britain."
Mr Prescott, who revealed he had once met a girl from Fishponds when he was about 11, thought it was an unusual name and never forgot it, later joined customers at Jeff's Jumbos mobile snack van before getting back into his van and heading for his next appointment in Southmead.
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by Paul, Bristol
Monday, March 22 2010, 4:27PM
“I agree with vicky pollard”
by Vicky Pollard, Bristol(Fishponds)
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:56PM
“Mycool ford, i wud never date a man lyke u,ure spellin is atroshous an i bet u lykes trains too innit. an stamp collectin.......... well i aint showin you my penny black.............u .anorak”
by Bristolshire, South West
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:46PM
“Oh here we go again.. one of the better areas in Bristol being branded as scruffy by Labour. Ummm perhaps it's me but I can't see how insulting local people is going to help a party win votes.”
by mike ford, Bristol
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:42PM
“ah vic, what you doin that side a town.. bit posh for u aint it? Were in Bedminser laiter if u wanna meat up?
lov u”
by Vicky Pollard, Bristol(Fishponds)
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:29PM
“Mr Prescott, who revealed he had once met a girl from Fishponds when he was about 11, thought it was an unusual name and never forgot it,
wen u was eleven,Dunt u tell lies it was lass week an u promised me a jobs and fings workin in yer orifice, all u politishuns are da same full of cr@p and yer breath stinks n e ways, so much fer me gettin a better lyfe im votting for jedward”
by Jamie E, Stokes Croft
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:26PM
“Joe, I think you'll find that class warfare is almost exclusively in one direction these days. Nice try though, but that was last century.
Prescot is the face of Labours Union loving far-left.
It's irony itself that he comments on the NHS and lack of school places, as these are problems created by his party.
It would be as much sense as Thatcher promising to sort a lack of coal.
Congrats to the Ahmeds for taking control of their streets.”
by Crafty Cockney, Bristol
Monday, March 22 2010, 12:07PM
“Pity it wasn`t Sunday because I could have got there with the eggs.
Mr 2 Jags alias secret lover in a Transit come on????
Years ago Wedgwood Benn used to campain in an old Ford Anglia to fit in with the working class as we were known.
Same Labour ideaology, get back in then rape the exchequer.”
by Sally, Bristol
Monday, March 22 2010, 11:54AM
“Elder Berry Fruit Market”
by Conservative Spokesperson, Bristol
Monday, March 22 2010, 11:47AM
“Wow, the lenghs that Labour will go to win a few votes... dragging John Prescott all the way here to visit already clean streets (as people have pointed out), he must have driven away wanting to buy a home here? There's possibly more rubbish in his front garden than he found in Fishponds.
Very sad and wasted weekend. Don't worry Kerry, we'll listen to real concerns while you look good for the camera.”
by Joseph, Oldbury Court
Monday, March 22 2010, 11:39AM
“I agree with Teresa, why have they chosen the Strights Parade? Mrs Ahmed who do you think you are to call our community shabby. It's no different now than it was when you started your business. Why choose Fishponds if you aren't happy with the area?
If you want to see shabby then please visit Eastville and Easton, not Fishponds and Downend.”