John Prescott, ex-Labour deputy PM, dies aged 86

King Charles and Sir Tony Blair led tributes to former deputy prime minister John Prescott, who has died at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer’s.

- NAMITA SINGH, MILLIE COOKE and DAVID MADDOX

The King hailed the Labour veteran’s “decades of public service” in frontline politics and said he was “deeply saddened”.

“I remember with great fondness his unique and indomitable character, as well as his infectious sense of humour,” he said.

Lord Prescott, who was a pivotal figure in Blair’s New Labour project, died peacefully in a care home surrounded by family. During a parliamentary career spanning 50 years, he 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 Blair 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 event in North Wales.

Sir Tony’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell said the government “could not have had a better peacemaker”, adding: “Of course he was combative but he had an enormous heart and a great capacity for friendship.”

His attempts to push through the Kyoto climate change deal in the UK as a cabinet minister also earned him the nickname “two Jags” for his use of two Jaguar cars for short journeys while trying to encourage people to use vehicles less.

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

Though a steadfast ally of Sir Tony during his tenure, Lord Prescott later criticised aspects of New Labour’s legacy, including the controversial decision to invade Iraq. A former trade unionist and merchant seaman, Lord Prescott was widely known for his commitment to social justice and environmental protection.