Former British Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott died this Wednesday at the age of 86, as announced by his family, who said that “he dedicated his life to trying to improve the lives of others , to fight for social justice and to protect the environment. “.
The former union leader and former merchant mariner suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and died “peacefully” surrounded by his family at his residence, according to his family.
Prescott was a key figure in Tony Blair’s New Labor project, seen by many as the guardian of the party’s traditional values against the centrist leadership.
In 2010 he was introduced into the Upper House as Lord Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, having served as the city’s MP for four decades.
In a statement released after his death, his wife, Pauline, and sons, Johnathan and David, said 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,” they said: “He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery “John has spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, since his time as a waiter on. cruise ships until becoming the Britain’s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister.”
“John loved Hull, his hometown, deeply and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour. “We would like to thank the incredible NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he died after living with Alzheimer’s. In lieu of flowers, if you wish, you can make a donation to Alzheimer’s Research UK,” the family said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Prescott was a “true giant of the Labor movement” and one of the “key architects” of the last Labor government.
Blair said he was “devastated” by Prescott’s death, describing his second as “one of the most talented people I have ever met in politics.” Although we all knew the end was near and inevitable, I am devastated by John’s passing. He was one of the most talented people I have ever met in politics; one of the most committed and faithful; and certainly the most unusual.
“There was nothing about John that fit the conventional wisdom. “He came from a proud, traditional working class, but he instinctively and completely understood the aspirations of that class and its desire to improve,” the former prime minister said: “He was liberal and tolerant, but intolerant of he could speak in the bluntest and sometimes harshest language, but he could speak in the most frank and sometimes the harshest language. hid a first-class intelligence order that made him think as deeply about the issues as he cared about them It is no exaggeration to say that the Labor Party could never have won three full terms in office without John He had a commanding presence. represented the non-Labour wing of the party, but he did so in a way that never reduced the effectiveness of our appeal and, in fact, broadened it, widening the base of our support.
Blair adds: “I trusted him many times: when I was in trouble, under attack; and less known, when I needed someone whose instincts I trusted more than my own. To say we were allies would not reflect the nature of our relationship. There was nothing formal about it. We saw each other and spoke regularly. We left aside the rules of protocol. We had debates that could be violent. But once concluded, the common line was maintained.
Prescott ceased to be a member of the Lords in July this year after his health problems worsened. He had only spoken once in the House since suffering a stroke in 2019, according to official records, and had not voted since February 2023.
In a parliamentary career spanning more than half a century, Prescott served 10 years as Deputy Prime Minister following Labor’s landslide victory in the 1997 general election.
Sometimes grumpy, he punched a protester who threw an egg at him during an election campaign visit to north Wales in 2001. But for much of his tenure he acted as a mediator in the often-fraught relationship. turbulent between Tony Blair and his chancellor, Gordon. Brown.
He also oversaw environment, transport and regions, a task which included helping to negotiate the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Prescott was a loyal supporter of Blair in office, but later criticized part of New Labor’s legacy, denouncing British involvement in the Iraq War.
He also vigorously defended Jeremy Corbyn when he was party leader against critical voices from the more centrist wing of the party.
Born in Prestatyn, Wales, on May 31, 1938, the son of a railway worker, Prescott left school at 15 to work as an apprentice cook and then as a waiter on the Cunard line before entering politics.
In a private letter from 2007, Blair said that the role of his former number two “ironing out differences, organizing colleagues, and resolving problems” was “integral to getting things done.”
The former prime minister said: “Prescott’s unique blend of charm and brutality, always more effective against unpredictability than it otherwise would have been, has stayed with you over time, the government maintained united and, above all, amused me a lot. “I was lucky to have him as my deputy.”