~John Prescott~ has backed ~Exeter City Council~'s plans to become a unitary – months before the local government White Paper has even been published. The Deputy Prime Minister told Labour party members during a flying visit to Exeter last week that he backed their plans to break free from Liberal Democrat controlled Devon CC.

Exeter council leader, Cllr ~Roy Slack~ said Mr Prescott made the comments at the launch of the local election manifesto. ‘He did say he supported Exeter's case for unitary local government,' said Cllr Slack. ‘It was encouraging, but of course, we don't know what David Miliband will put in the White Paper, or whether he will put local government reorganisation in it.'