John Prescott death: Latest updates and tributes as former Labour deputy prime ministers dies aged 86 after battle with Alzheimer’s

John Prescott was the pugnacious political bruiser who became an indispensable figure in Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project.

For more than a decade, the ex-merchant seaman provided a crucial link with the party’s working-class roots as Sir Tony’s reforming drive led critics to accuse him of abandoning socialism altogether.

Notoriously short-tempered, as deputy prime minister he famously brawled with a protester who struck him with an egg while out campaigning during the 2001 general election.

He had a stormy relationship with the press who dubbed him “two Jags”, and who mocked his at times jumbled syntax in statements and interviews.

He nevertheless emerged as a key mediator in the turbulent relationship between Sir Tony and chancellor Gordon Brown, which dominated the politics of the time.

But after leaving office along with Sir Tony in 2007, he became increasingly critical of the New Labour legacy, denouncing Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War and backing Jeremy Corbyn.

Former US vice president Al Gore, who worked with John Prescott on the Kyoto Protocol climate change agreement in 1997, said he had ‘never worked with anyone in politics — on my side of the pond or his — quite like John Prescott’.

Mr Gore said in a statement:

He possessed an inherent ability to connect with people about the issues that mattered to them — a talent that others spend years studying and cultivating, but that was second nature to him.

He fought like hell to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol and was an unwavering champion of climate action for decades to come. I’m forever grateful to John for that commitment to solving the climate crisis and will miss him as a dear friend.

Over a parliamentary career spanning more than half a century, Lord Prescott served for 10 years as deputy prime minister after Labour’s 1997 general election landslide.

At times short-tempered, he once famously punched a protester who threw an egg at him during an election campaign visit to North Wales in 2001.

But during much of his time in office, he acted as a mediator in the often turbulent relationship between Sir Tony and chancellor Gordon Brown.

He also oversaw the environment, transport and the regions, a brief which included helping to negotiate the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Lord Prescott was a loyal supporter of Sir Tony in office but subsequently critical of parts of New Labour’s legacy, denouncing Britain’s involvement in the Iraq War.

He also strongly defended Jeremy Corbyn during his time as party leader in the face of fierce criticism.

Sir Tony Blair has described his former deputy as the one of the most talented and loyal politicians he had come across who had achieved ‘extraordinary accomplishments’ in public life.

Paying tribute to Lord Prescott, former prime minister said:

Although we all knew that the end was approaching and was inevitable, I am devastated by John’s passing. He was one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics; one of the most committed and loyal; and definitely the most unusual.

There was nothing about John which fitted conventional wisdom. He was from proud traditional working class stock yet understood instinctively and completely the aspirations of that class and their desire to better themselves.

He was liberal and tolerant, yet instantly intolerant of any overly liberal middle class dismissal of the misery suffered by poor inner city communities from crime and drug abuse. He could talk in the bluntest and sometimes bluest language, but it concealed a first rate intellect which meant he thought as deeply about issues as much as he cared about them.

It is no exaggeration to say the Labour Party could never have won three consecutive full terms without John. He was a commanding presence. He represented the wing of the party which was not New Labour, but he did it in a way which never reduced the effectiveness of our appeal and indeed extended it, broadening the base of our support.

He had extraordinary accomplishments: he revived many of Britain’s inner cities, was responsible for the refurbishment of thousands of council homes, the revival of British shipping, completed the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, established the Coalfield Communities Trust to breathe life back into villages and towns affected by the closure of mines; and was Britain’s lead negotiator for the Kyoto climate treaty, the world’s first attempt to agree a global response to climate change.

Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Prescott was a ‘true giant of the Labour movement’ and one of the ‘key architects’ of the last Labour government.

The Prime Minister released this statement below:

Here’s our top story on the MailOnline website following the announcement Lord Prescott has died at the age of 86.

We’ve had tributes from Sir Keir Starmer and former prime minister Sir Tony Blair this morning.

Stick with us for the latest reaction and tributes over the course of the day.

In a statement released after his death, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David said that representing the people of Hull had been ‘his greatest honour’.

We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86

He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.

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.

John dearly loved his home of Hull and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour. 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.

In lieu of flowers and if you wish to do so, you can donate to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

As you can imagine, our family needs to process our grief so we respectfully request time and space to mourn in private. Thank you.

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has died aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family has announced.

The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman died “peacefully” and surrounded by relatives at his care home, they said.

Lord Prescott was a key figure of Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour project, seen by many as custodian of the party’s traditional values in the face of a modernising leadership.

He was ennobled in 2010 and introduced to the upper chamber as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull having served for four decades as an MP for the city.

His death marks the loss of a heavyweight of modern politics.

We will bring you the latest reaction and tributes from throughout the day.