Babatunji Wusu –
- John Prescott, former British deputy prime minister, has died at 86.
- He served as deputy PM for a decade under Tony Blair, contributing significantly to Labour’s transformation.
- Known for his blunt style and mediation between Blair and Gordon Brown, Prescott was also a key negotiator for the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
- Current Labour leader Keir Starmer and Tony Blair paid tribute to Prescott’s enduring legacy.
- Prescott had been suffering from Alzheimer’s and a stroke before his death.
- His passing marks the end of an era for British politics and the Labour Party.
John Prescott, the former deputy prime minister of Britain who played a crucial role in reshaping the Labour Party under Tony Blair, has passed away at the age of 86, his family confirmed on Thursday. Prescott died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by his family at a care home. His wife, Pauline, and their two sons described his passing as a loss that “deeply saddened” them.
Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister for a decade from 1997, was known for his staunch defence of working-class communities and as a key architect of the policies that helped transform Britain’s Labour government. He had a reputation as a plain-speaking politician, with a no-nonsense approach to politics. Prescott was appointed to Blair’s cabinet to help unite the Labour Party by bridging the gap between its left-wing factions and the more centrist approach Blair sought to cultivate.
In his tribute, Tony Blair expressed deep sorrow, calling Prescott “irreplaceable” in British politics. He described his former deputy as someone who “kept the government together” and “brought a unique blend of charm and toughness to the role.” Blair added that Prescott’s contribution was vital to the success of Labour’s transformative agenda in the 1990s, which reshaped social and economic policies across the nation.
Keir Starmer, the current leader of the Labour Party and the UK’s first Labour prime minister since 2010, also praised Prescott’s legacy. He called him “a true giant of the Labour movement” and credited him with championing working-class people and fighting for regional equality. Starmer highlighted Prescott’s instrumental role in advancing climate negotiations and tackling inequality, noting that his legacy would endure well beyond his lifetime.
Prescott, a former merchant seaman and trade unionist, represented Hull in northern England for four decades in Parliament. He was also appointed to the House of Lords after his tenure as deputy prime minister. In recent years, Prescott suffered a stroke in 2019 and had been battling Alzheimer’s disease. Due to his health issues, he stepped down from his role in the House of Lords in July 2023.
Known for his forthrightness, Prescott made headlines in 2001 when, during a campaign stop in North Wales, he punched a protester who threw an egg at him. Despite his fiery moments, he was instrumental in bridging divides within Labour, including mediating tensions between Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown, who was also vying for political influence during the party’s rise.
Prescott’s political achievements also extended to his leadership in negotiating the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change, an accomplishment he was particularly proud of during his time in office.
In a letter to Prescott in 2007, Blair reflected on their partnership, acknowledging that Prescott’s “charm and brutality” were essential in managing the complexities of the Labour government. Blair expressed gratitude, saying, “I was lucky to have you as my deputy.”
