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Tributes have been paid to former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, who has died aged 86.
Lord Prescott, a former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman who went on to be a key figure within Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project, died “peacefully” surrounded by relatives at his care home after a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family said in a statement.
His family said they are “deeply saddened” after his death, adding that he “spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment”, they added.
Lord Prescott was viewed by many the torchbearer for the traditional elements of the Labour Party, at a time when it was being radically modernised by Sir Tony and Gordon Brown.
In 2010 he was introduced to the House of Lords as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, after representing the city for four decades in the Commons.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown described Lord Prescott as a “working class hero” and a “colossus and and titan of the Labour movement”.
Meanwhile, one of New Labour’s architects, Peter Mandelson, said he was an “essential part” of the project, and that he was “the cement that kept New Labour together”.
John Rentoul | John Prescott’s guilty secret? He was New Labour’s key moderniser
It has often been said that Tony Blair used John Prescott – with his working-class, trade-union background and traditional socialist beliefs – as a human shield, to give Blair cover for his middle-class, crypto-Tory sellout of Labour values. It is not true.
On every issue, Prescott agreed with the New Labour line. In some cases, he had come to Blairite conclusions before Blair. He supported the national minimum wage at a time when many trade unions insisted that it was their role to negotiate better conditions for the low-paid.
I knew him when he had a reputation as a fire-breathing lefty in Neil Kinnock’s shadow cabinet…
The Independent’s chief political commentator John Rentoul writes:
Badenoch: Prescott was one of UK’s ‘greatest examples of social mobility’
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has offered her “heartfelt condolences” after the death of John Prescott, who she described as a “titan of British politics”.
Ms Badenoch told the Commons: “May I take the opportunity to express my heartfelt condolences on behalf of me and my party on the death of Lord Prescott.
“He was a titan of British politics in the 1990s, one of this country’s greatest examples of social mobility, and a true patriot – no one who had two jags could not love this country.
“And we all especially remember that moment when he connected with the electorate during the 2001 general election. Many of us, all across the country, and the public, were very much on his side during that altercation.”
William Hague shares footage of Commons battle with Prescott
Former Conservative Party leader has shared footage of an amusing House of Commons tit-for-tat between him and former deputy prime minister John Prescott.
“Just been sent this. Think he won that one,” Lord Hague wrote on X.
Hull City Council leaders: ‘He adored his adopted city’
Hull City Council leaders have paid tribute to Lord Prescott as a “giant of the Labour and trade union movement who adored his adopted city”.
Lord Prescott served as the MP for Kingston upon Hull East for four decades, and was described by council leader Mike Ross as a “remarkable figure who had a tremendous impact on the course of the nation” and someone who was “always committed to his constituency and the city of Hull”.
The leader of the Labour Group on Hull City Council, councillor Daren Hale, said: “Even after his 40 years as MP for Hull East, John participated fully in local life, and we feel personally privileged that he still found time to pop into the Guildhall to see us after catching the bus down from Sutton from time to time.
“He is a local, national and international political legend and will be so sadly missed.”
In pictures: John Prescott, a political titan
Peter Mandelson recalls protestor punch incident
Lord Peter Mandelson has recalled the incident in which Lord Prescott punched a protestor who threw an egg in his face.
“It wasn’t brilliant. It wasn’t perfect,” Lord Mandelson told the Sky News breakfast programme.
“Well the punch was in the election of 2001 and I was in Hartlepool fighting my seat and Tony called and said, ‘what am I going to do’? He said, ‘people are saying he’s got to go.’ I said, ‘let’s see. Let’s see how the story evolves … Give it ’til overnight.’
“In the morning, it was okay. It wasn’t brilliant, it wasn’t perfect. He was the deputy prime minister. He just socked somebody in the head. It wasn’t perfect. But Tony was doing a press conference that morning I remember. And he just sort of (said) ‘John’s John’. Diffuse the whole thing.”
Angela Rayner: ‘John was an inspiration to me’
Angela Rayner, who is now walking in the footsteps of Lord John Prescott as the deputy prime minister, said on X: “I am deeply saddened by the news of John Prescott’s death.
“John was not only a Labour legend but an inspiration to me and a dear friend. He will be greatly missed by so many.
“My thoughts and prayers are with Pauline and the rest of his family. May he rest in peace.”
Tributes paid by Michael Heseltine and Alan Johnson
Big-hitting former politicians are queueing up to pay tribute to John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister.
Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, a neighbouring MP in Hull, told the Today Programme: “While many people’s description of John was uncompromising, he spent most of his life finding compromise and making deals.”
John Major’s former deputy prime minister, Michael Heseltine, told Today: “It would be ridiculous to say we were close because that is not the way of politics [but] John and I got on very well. Once you got away from the political spotlight and the need to show your followers you are on side we had a lot in common and the desire to better the lives of people.”
Pictured: John Prescott’s cameo in TV show ‘Gavin and Stacey’
Former deputy prime minister John Prescott once made a cameo in one of the UK’smost beloved TV series.
In the last episode of the third series, Lord Prescott appeared at Nessa’s wedding with fiancee Dave Coaches – playing the part of Nessa’s ex-lover.
Lord Prescott wrote in his blog that he “thoroughly enjoyed” the part.
Throughout the series, Nessa regularly allludes to the Labour big-hitter being her former flame.
Lord Prescott enters the church and congratulates Dave, who responds: “Cheers John, nice to see you”.
Prescott ‘very ill’ when I spoke with him last, says Alastair Campbell
Former Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell has revealed details of the last time he spoke with John Prescott.
“I knew he was ill. The last time I spoke to him, frankly, it wasn’t possible to have what you and I would define as a proper two-way conversation,” Mr Campbell recalled speaking with Sky News.
“He was very ill but he still had a smile on his face. He was still sort of fighting away from a bed in a care home. But honestly so many people owe an awful lot to John Prescott and everybody in the Labour movement does.”
