by Mick the Ram

Lord John Prescott who has been a major figure in Labour politics for decades including a long spell as deputy prime minister to Sir Tony Blair, has died at the age of 86.

He earned a fierce reputation from his blunt, and no-nonsense style, particularly after Labour’s 1997 general election landslide victory.

In a brief statement announcing his death, Lord Prescott’s wife and two sons said he had been in a care home recently living with Alzheimer’s. They said he died “peacefully surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.”

One of his most famous actions occurred in 2001 when he punched a protester who had thrown an egg at him during an election campaign event in North Wales.

His great friend Sir Tony said he was “devastated” by the news, adding that there was “no one quite like him in British politics” and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed a “true giant” of the Labour movement.

There was also praise from His Majesty the King who praised his “decades of public service” and recalled “with great fondness his unique and indomitable character, as well as his infectious sense of humour.”

Proud of his roots

Lord Prescott had ceased to be a member of the House of Lords in July of this year due to non-attendance, having only spoken once in the chamber since suffering his stroke in 2019.

His wife Pauline, who he married in 1961 and sons Jonathan and David expressed their sorrow, calling his years serving the people of Hull his greatest honour.

“John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest-serving deputy prime minister,” a short statement said.

Lifetime of trying to help others

They added that he had spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest serving deputy prime minister.

They also paid tribute to those who had cared for him in recent times. “We would like to thank the amazing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he passed away after latterly living with Alzheimer’s.”

Humble beginnings

Born in Prestatyn, Wales, in May 1938, Lord Prescott left school at 15 and worked as a steward in the Merchant Navy. He then studied at Ruskin College in Oxford, before entering politics.

He joined the shadow cabinet in 1983 as the party’s transport spokesman and when Labour won power in 1997, he became deputy prime minister, as well as leading a department with responsibilities spanning the environment, transport and the regions.

Surprise peerage

After his famous punching incident he earned himself the nickname of “two jabs” but that became “two jags” when despite pushing the public to switch from cars to public transport, it emerged he had two Jaguar cars.

He retired from the Commons in 2010 and to the surprise of many of his supporters accepted a peerage, claiming it would give him continued influence over environmental policy.

Tribute from former PM

Former prime minister Sir Tony said Lord Prescott “reached parts of the electorate that he could not,” and was “loyal, committed and an enormous help” as his deputy, but added that their relationship was not just political and they developed a “genuine admiration, respect and affection for each other”.

He continued to say his friend was “one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics”.