SIR - Re the derogatory letter from Malcolm Wood regarding John Prescott (T&A, May 11).

Mr Wood asks: "What is the point of John Prescott? There was little point to him before, but now there is even less."

I have read Mr Wood's letters previously. He is not happy unless he is Labour bashing.

John Prescott, pictured, has come up the hard way, starting from humble beginnings in Hull, and has worked hard from being a ship's porter, then many years as a trade unionist and devoted his working life to the Labour party, no doubt working for a pittance, devoted to the job he loves.

An excellent go-between for the unions and the party, he had to wait until 1997 (almost 40 years) until Tony Blair rewarded him for what must have been the longest apprenticeship ever.

Believe me, John Prescott deserves everything he receives. Sure he is every cartoonist's dream and a gift for critics and cynics, but I reckon he is having the last laugh.

Geoff Tasker, Park Road, Low Moor