Prescott criticised in parking row

John Prescott was asked to move his Jaguar

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was asked to move his Jaguar car after it blocked a driver from using a disabled-parking space.

Wheelchair-user Mark Baggley approached Mr Prescott when he was unable to gain access to the spot at a Chinese restaurant.

After being asked to shift the vehicle, Mr Prescott went outside and parked elsewhere.

But Mr Baggley, who campaigns on behalf of disabled people, said there was a widespread problem of drivers ignoring restrictions on "orange-badge" spaces.

The car was clearly in the disabled space - it's not fair

Mark Baggley

Mr Baggley, from Beverley, East Yorkshire, said: "I politely asked Mr Prescott to move the car and he did.

"He was not arrogant or rude he just got up and shifted the car."

Mr Baggley had arrived outside Mr Chu's China Palace restaurant in Hull with a friend and found both disabled parking spaces in the car park were taken - one with a Jaguar saloon.

He said: "My friend said it probably belonged to Mr Prescott because it is his favourite restaurant.

'Politely asked'

"I asked if Mr Prescott was there and I was then shown to his table.

"I went up to the table and politely asked Mr Prescott if it was his car parked outside.

"He simply said 'yes it is'. I asked him if he had an orange badge and he gave no answer but said 'Do you want me to move it?'

"I said yes and he got up and moved it to one of the many free places.

"The car was clearly in the disabled space - it's not fair."

Parking campaign

Mr Baggley set up campaign group the Choices and Rights Disabled Coalition nine years ago and now employs six paid members of staff, all of whom are disabled.

His coalition is involved in the "Bay Watch" campaign, which checks on able-bodied people parking in orange-badge spaces.

Mr Prescott, who is MP for Hull East, was asked about the incident as he arrived to see Prime Minister Tony Blair open The Deep, a business centre in Hull, but refused to discuss it.

A spokeswoman for Mr Prescott said later: "John went into the restaurant and parked his car next to a disabled parking space.

"But unfortunately it was overlapping slightly into it and a man came into the restaurant and asked John if it was his car.

"John, said it was, and was only too happy to move it."