John Prescott dies aged 86 as family of former deputy prime minister release statement
by Catherine Addison-Swan, Nina Lloyd, PA · ChronicleLiveJohn Prescott has died at the age of 86 following a battle with Alzheimer's, the family of the former deputy prime minister have confirmed.
Made Lord Prescott in 2010, the politician served as the MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years and was a key figure in Sir Tony Blair's New Labour project. In a statement announcing the news of his death, his family said he had "spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment".
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. His wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David added in their joint statement that representing the people of Hull had been "his greatest honour".
The family said: "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."
They added: "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."
The family also asked well-wishers to donate to charity Alzheimer's Research UK as a tribute to Lord Prescott in lieu of flowers. Born in Prestatyn in Wales in 1938 as the son of a railwayman, Lord Prescott left school at the age of 15 to work as a trainee chef and then as a steward on the Cunard Line before entering politics.
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.
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