Time to retire, John - Telegraph We are concerned that a national institution, no longer young, is overburdened with work and after many years in public life would be well advised to retire gracefully into the background, handing over to someone younger. Friends have noticed in recent months that this particular personage may not have been especially well and has suffered a number of setbacks. This individual has given wise counsel to prime ministers and other national leaders, even if they may not have entirely understood what they were being told. We are not sure if John Prescott reads this newspaper, but if he does we thought we would pass on our deepest respects and suggest that since he has done his bit for Queen and country, he now deserves a long and fulfilling retirement. Indeed, most of us thought and hoped we had already heard the last of him. Time to bow out, John.