During the period when Sir Tony was guiding the party towards the center with a New Labour rebranding effort, Lord Prescott effectively maintained the party’s connection to its working-class roots. Hailing from Prestatyn in North Wales, he had previously worked as a cook and steward for the Cunard line before embarking on his parliamentary career.
In 2010, he was granted a peerage and became known as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull after dedicating four decades of service as an MP for the city. He made his exit from the House of Lords earlier this year due to health challenges.
Lord Prescott thrived on the campaign bus, spreading the party’s message nationwide and embracing every photo opportunity. However, a notable incident in Rhyl, where he faced an egg-throwing protester, demonstrated the risks that come with a high-profile public role.
With tensions often bubbling between Sir Tony and then-Chancellor Gordon Brown, Lord Prescott frequently found himself in the position of mediator between these two prominent figures and their factions within the party.
Lord Prescott’s steadfast commitment to Labour ideals, particularly during the era when Margaret Thatcher was the principal political figure, earned him admiration within a party grappling with where to shift its ideological stance to counter the influential prime minister of the time.
One of his notable actions was donning a wetsuit to swim down the Thames to deliver a letter to Downing Street, exemplifying a politician who understood the significance of imagery.
His encounter with a protester who threw an egg at him in the town of Rhyl during the 2001 campaign briefly caused unrest among Labour supporters. However, he quickly turned the situation into a moment of humor, stating he was simply trying to connect with the electorate as his party leader had urged.
Lord Prescott stood by Sir Tony during his final Prime Minister’s Questions and was a loyal supporter throughout three successful election campaigns. After the passing of John Smith, he ran for the leadership himself, securing a respectable second place behind Sir Tony, while finishing ahead of Dame Margaret Beckett.
Although he stepped back from the forefront as Labour returned to opposition, he remained a sought-after figure on the campaign circuit and actively campaigned for Jeremy Corbyn.
Eventually, Lord Prescott found his place in the House of Lords as Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull, the city he had long championed in the Commons.
Beyond politics, he also served as a director for Hull Kingston Rovers and often made television appearances, frequently alongside his wife Pauline.
