British deputy prime minister John Prescott yesterday insisted he would not quit, as the parliamentary sleaze watchdog announced an inquiry into his visit to billionaire Philip Anschutz's ranch.
Mr Prescott said he visited the businessman's Colorado ranch because he liked cowboy films, and had nothing to do with details of an application by Mr Anschutz to build a super-casino in the Millennium Dome in London.
Downing Street said it was legitimate for Mr Prescott to meet Mr Anschutz because he was a potential investor involved in a project that could generate thousands of homes and jobs.
Mr Prescott chose to go on BBC Radio 4's Today programme to defend his actions - though he repeatedly refused to answer questions about whether he had had another extra-marital affair apart from his admitted adultery with secretary Tracey Temple.
He said he was "very sorry" about the damage done to the government by the affair. But he strongly defended his contacts with Mr Anschutz and denied suggestions of improper influence.
"I will get on with doing my job and I am not leaving it, I am getting on with it," Mr Prescott said.
"I am very sorry for what has happened. I do believe in a way it's not been good for my party or government. Of course I am conscious of that," he said.
"All my life has been that, I have never had another job, I had never had a penny off anyone else, all I've done is this job, but when I get involved, as I have been, in these incidents I am extremely sorry."
Mr Prescott confirmed he had met Mr Anschutz - who acquired the lease for the dome in 2002 - seven times over a three-year period, including a two-night stay at his Colorado ranch.
He insisted he had "separated" himself from planning decisions made by his department about the site, which were handled by his junior ministers, Chris Leslie and Lord Rooker.