Former deputy prime minister dies at the age of 86

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has died at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer’s disease, his family announced.

The Labor veteran, who was a key figure in Sir Tony Blair’s New Labor 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 10 years after the party’s landslide victory in 1997.

Although 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 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.

But in his tribute to Lord Prescott, Sir Tony’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell said the government “couldn’t have had a better peacemaker”, adding: “Of course he was combative, but he had a huge heart and a great capacity for friendship. ”

His efforts to push through the Kyoto agreement on climate change in Britain as a minister also earned him the nickname ‘two Jags’ due to his use of two Jaguar cars for short journeys as he tried to encourage people to eat less vehicles to use.

Born on May 31, 1938 in Prestatyn, Wales, Prescott rose from humble beginnings as the son of a railway worker to become one of the Labor Party’s most prominent figures.

Although Lord Prescott was a steadfast ally of Sir Tony during his time in office, he later criticized aspects of New Labour’s legacy, including the controversial decision to invade Iraq.

The deputy prime minister, a former trade unionist and sailor, was widely known for his commitment to social justice and environmental protection.

He was seen by many as the man who carried the torch for the traditional labor movement within his party, at a time when it was being radically modernized by Sir Tony and Mr Brown.

Paying tribute to his former deputy, Sir Tony described him as “one of the most talented people I have ever come across in politics”, and said he was devastated by the loss.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “He was a colossus and a titan of the Labor movement.

“When you hear the term working-class hero, John fit that description.”

Brown called his “major achievements” and noted his work on the Kyoto Treaty, decentralization and housing rehabilitation and improvement.

He continued: “He was a unifying force at all times. As deputy leader he realized the passion for unity in the Labor Party. He was important in keeping the party together, especially in Iraq.

“Despite his image as a tough person who was uncompromising, John really wanted people to work together.”

He noted: “John always talked about enduring values ​​in Labor politics, so his values ​​have never changed.”

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Prescott was a “true giant of the Labor movement” and one of the “key architects” of Labour’s last government.

Former MP Harriet Harman, who replaced Lord Prescott as deputy leader of the party, said he was a “major figure in bringing Labor back into government”.

She described him as a “combative unifier who outwitted those who underestimated him”, adding: “He assured Labor traditionalists there was a place for them in New Labour.”

Recalling the moment Lord Prescott punched a protester who threw an egg at him in 2001, Sir Tony told BBC Radio 4. Today program to which he responded at a subsequent press conference: “Well, John is John.”

He said: “Someone hit an egg on his head, and he showed up, and he turned around, and he hit the man and put him down.

“This obviously caused a big kind of row… We had to do a press conference the next day during the election campaign, and some people said, well, look, he’s a Deputy Prime Minister – you know, you can’t have a Deputy Prime Minister who is a voter gives a blow.

“And then there were other people who said, yeah, but you know… he had an egg hit on the head, and he turned around and hit the guy, and a lot of people think, well, fair enough.”

A long debate ensued, Sir Tony said, adding: “When I was finally asked about it at the press conference I simply said, ‘John, being John’.”

In a statement, Lord Prescott’s wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David expressed their sadness and called his years of service to the people of Hull his greatest honor.

He died “surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery,” they said.

“John has spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, from his time as a cruise ship waiter to his time as Britain’s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister.”

Lord Prescott stepped down from the House of Lords in July this year due to ongoing health problems.

Official records show he has spoken in Parliament only once since suffering a stroke in 2019 and has not taken part in a vote since February 2023.