John Prescott, Britain’s former Deputy Prime Minister under Tony Blair and a key figure in transforming the Labour Party, has died at the age of 86, his family announced on Thursday.
“We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away yesterday (Wednesday) at the age of 86,” the family’s statement read.
Prescott served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007 during Blair’s transformative Labour government, which delivered a landslide election victory in 1997.
A working-class politician and former trade union activist, Prescott balanced Blair’s centrist policies by representing Labour’s traditional left-wing base.
Blair expressed his grief, calling Prescott “irreplaceable” and a unique presence in British politics.
“There was no one quite like him,” Blair said, noting Prescott’s critical role in keeping the Labour government cohesive.
Prescott was a prominent figure in global climate diplomacy, leading the UK’s negotiations for the landmark 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
Former US Vice President Al Gore paid tribute to Prescott as a “dear friend” and “unwavering champion of climate action,” stating his role in shaping global environmental policy.
“He fought like hell to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol and continued to champion climate action for decades,” Gore said.
Keir Starmer, the current Labour Prime Minister, called Prescott a “true giant of the Labour movement,” praising his legacy in tackling regional inequality and environmental issues.
Gordon Brown, who succeeded Blair, described Prescott as a “colossus” and credited him with elevating environmental concerns in government policy.
“He was probably the first government minister to see the importance of the environment, and the 1997 Kyoto agreement is a testament to his hard work,” Brown said.
Prescott, a former merchant seaman, represented Hull in northern England as a Member of Parliament for 40 years. Known for his plain-speaking and fiery personality, he once famously punched a protester who threw an egg at him during a campaign stop in Wales.
In recent years, Prescott suffered a stroke in 2019 and battled Alzheimer’s disease. He passed away peacefully in a care home surrounded by his family and jazz music, according to his wife Pauline and their two sons.
Prescott was appointed to the House of Lords after leaving Parliament but stepped back from his duties in July due to his declining health.
As Blair once remarked in a letter to Prescott, his “unique blend of charm and brutality” was instrumental in keeping the government together and delivering for the nation.
Former UK deputy PM John Prescott dies at 86