UK Politics

Lord Prescott dies aged 86Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreTributes 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 moderniserIt 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: Alex Croft21 November 2024 14:42Badenoch: 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.”Alex Croft21 November 2024 14:22William Hague shares footage of Commons battle with PrescottFormer 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.Alex Croft21 November 2024 13:57Hull 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.”Alex Croft21 November 2024 13:40In pictures: John Prescott, a political titanPeter Mandelson, right, with John Prescott, centre, and Neil Kinnock at London’s Festival Hall after Labour’s election victory in 1997 (Rebecca Naden/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreSir Keir Starmer pushed back on claims the much-delayed decision to allow Ukraine to strike at Russian forces with storm shadow missiles was a reaction to Donald Trump‘s election as US president.Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey suggested on Thursday the decision was “too little, too late” for Ukraine as it tries to tackle the renewed onslaught from Vladimir Putin’s forces.It came as Sir Keir was giving a statement to MPs on the G20 and COP29 summits and an update on the war in Ukraine after they used the British-made missiles for the first time yesterday.While the prime minister avoided commenting specifically on the use of the missiles in Ukraine, he laid out the legal case for allowing their use: “Under article 51 of the UN Charter, Ukraine has a clear right to self-defence against Russia’s illegal attacks.”So I say again, Russia could roll back their forces and end this war tomorrow. But until then, we will stand up for what we know is right, for Ukraine’s security and for our own security and we will back Ukraine with what is needed for as long as is needed.”Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China in Brazil (Stefan Rousseau/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreThe government’s controversial decision to extend inheritance tax to farm properties could put a fifth of Labour‘s seats at risk, analysis from the Independent reveals. At least 81 of Labour’s seats in England, Scotland and Wales are in areas with a significant rural population, where more constituents are likely to be affected by farm taxes, which have prompted fury. In 54 of these constituencies, Labour won by less than 15 per cent, with the Conservatives, Reform or the SNP hot on their heels. The so-called tractor tax has been seized upon by the rural community as an example of Labour betrayal.The Tories are in prime position to take advantage of Labour’s declining popularity among rural voters, with the party likely eyeing up the chance to claw back 48 seats where they were less than 15 per cent behind Labour in the recent election.The rural/urban classification was drawn up by Defra in 2011. For Wales, areas with over 200 farms are included. There is no rural/urban classification data available for Northern Ireland.Where is Labour at risk?On Tuesday more than 10,000 farmers protested against the tax changes, which mean that from April next year inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1 million, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20 per cent – half the usual rate.Leaders from major parties have challenged the government’s decision, with Kemi Badenoch calling the tax “cruel” and and Ed Davey saying it “does not make sense”.The rural vote is a point of insecurity for Labour; in fact, the vast majority of these seats were formerly held by the Conservatives until this year. It is safe to say that Labour cannot take these votes for granted. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are waiting in the wings.In Wednesday’s PMQs, Tory MPs took the opportunity to attack Angela Rayner on the policy decision, with Saqib Bhatti asking:“Why has this Labour Government declared war on British farmers?”Tractors drove through central London as part of the protest (Aaron Chown/PA) More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreA highlight of the lacklustre 2001 general election campaign was the “Prescott punch”. John Prescott, Labour’s Deputy Prime Minister was incensed by a protester who hit him with an egg. He lashed out at the egg-thrower and the police had to separate the two men. The incident was caught on camera and dominated the news. A mortified Prescott thought that he would have to resign. Tony Blair played the matter down, stating: “John is John”. Prescott was the keeper of the cloth cap in Tony Blair’s Labour government, perhaps the last overtly working class Labour politician to hold high ministerial office. With his prolier than thou attitude and forceful statement of traditional Labour values, he could touch the hearts of trade union and Labour activists more than any other party figure. At the 1993 Party Conference the leader, John Smith, was advocating one member one vote in elections for parliamentary candidates and the party leader. The result was in doubt and Smith’s authority, if not his leadership, was on the line. Prescott, in a passionate, meandering even incoherent speech, roused the enthusiasm of the audience and helped to win the vote. Transcribing what Prescott was trying to say in the Commons was a test often set for applicants for a job writing Hansard. The torrent of words, often shouted and spoken rapidly, and the syntax were a delight for the sketch writers. Matthew Parris in The Times wrote of an oration in Brighton: “John Prescott went 12 rounds with the English language and left it slumped and bleeding over the ropes” He found the coverage hurtful and may have suffered from a form of verbal dyslexia. John Prescott frequently played peacemaker between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair (John Stillwell/PA)John Prescott was born in Prestatyn, a North Wales seaside town, in 1938. The family moved to Rotherham when he was five, and five years later to Chester. His parents were Labour activists; his father was a railwayman and a Labour councillor. Of the three Prescott children, only John did not pass the 11 plus for a grammar school. The failure left a scar. He left his local secondary modern school in Ellesmere Port at the age of 15, worked in the hotel trade and at the age of 17 became a merchant seaman with Cunard Lines. Employers and his union regarded him as a troublemaker and he was thrown off ship a number of times. His time as a ship’s steward saw him strike up an unlikely friendship with former Tory PM Anthony Eden who was a passenger when he was working as a steward. But many years later Winston Churchill’s grandson Nicholas Soames would mock him shouting “gin and tonic waiter” across the Commons.Prescott’s suspicion of authority, reinforced by his sense of social inferiority because of academic failure, made him a life-long member of the awkward squad. Politically he was on Labour’s left and regarded as a militant in the right wing National Union of Seamen. In 1963, however, he channelled his energies into study at Ruskin College, at Oxford. He was already married and a father. In later life he frequently expressed his gratitude to Ruskin for the opportunities it gave him. In 1956, he went to Hull University to read Economics. His continuing involvement in union activities (he crossed Harold Wilson in 1966 with his support for the seamen’s strike) and Labour politics (he fought the safe Conservative seat of Southport in 1966) were at the cost of his studies. In 1968 he scraped a third class degree – written examinations were not his forte. Tutors recall that when he attended – party and union activities permitting – he was articulate, opinionated, scornful of different views and a strong personality: he was recognisably the man who was Deputy Prime Minister 40 years later. Prescott’s suspicion of authority, reinforced by his sense of social inferiority because of academic failure, made him a life-long member of the awkward squad More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreFormer deputy prime minister John Prescott has died at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer’s, his family announced.The Labour veteran, who was a pivotal figure in Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project, died peacefully in a care home surrounded by family. During a parliamentary career spanning 50 years, Lord Prescott served as deputy prime minister for a decade following the party’s landslide victory in 1997. While he was known for his fiery temperament, he played a crucial role in mediating the often fractious relationship between Sir Tony and then chancellor Gordon Brown.The former MP for Kingston upon Hull East, a seat which he held for four decades, made headlines in 2001 when he punched a protester who had thrown an egg at him during an election campaign in North Wales.John Prescott passed away after battling Alzheimer’s More