Criticism of John Prescott was growing yesterday with Labour backbenchers and peers saying his removal as deputy prime minister was needed for the Labour party to revive its fortunes and reconnect with voters.

Support for the deputy prime minister was further undermined after a Sunday newspaper published pictures of Mr Prescott playing croquet on the lawns of Dorneywood, the ministerial residence in Buckinghamshire, when he was technically in charge of the government during Tony Blair's trip to Washington last week.