During the period when Sir Tony was steering the party towards the center with the New Labour rebranding, Lord Prescott played a crucial role in maintaining the party’s connection to its working-class base. Hailing from Prestatyn in North Wales, he started his career as a cook and steward on the Cunard line before stepping into parliamentary politics.
In 2010, he was ennobled and became Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, after dedicating four decades as an MP for the city. Earlier this year, he departed from the House of Lords due to health issues.
Lord Prescott thrived on the campaign bus, spreading the party’s message across the nation and was not shy about seizing photo opportunities. However, a notable incident in Rhyl, where he clashed with an egg-throwing protester, highlighted the challenges of his publicly visible role.
With tensions frequently flaring between Sir Tony and then Chancellor Gordon Brown, Lord Prescott often found himself mediating between these prominent figures and their factions within the party.
Lord Prescott’s firm stance in defense of Labour principles during Margaret Thatcher’s reign won him admiration within the party, which was grappling with whether to lean left or towards the center in response to the sitting prime minister’s dominance.
One memorable act of defiance involved him donning a wetsuit to swim down the Thames, presenting a letter to Downing Street, showcasing his understanding of the impact of visual media.
His altercation with a protester who threw an egg at him in Rhyl during the 2001 campaign temporarily unsettled Labour, but the deputy prime minister quickly turned the incident into a humorous moment, emphasizing his role in engaging with the public on behalf of his party.
Standing by Sir Tony during his final Prime Minister’s Questions, Lord Prescott had unwaveringly supported him in three winning election campaigns. Following the death of John Smith, he made a bid for leadership, finishing a distant second to Sir Tony, while surpassing Dame Margaret Beckett.
While he stepped back from the front lines as Labour entered opposition, he remained a sought-after presence on the campaign trail, energetically supporting Jeremy Corbyn.
Ultimately, he was granted a seat in the House of Lords as Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull, representing the East Yorkshire city he so notably served in Parliament.
In addition to his political career, he took on roles such as the director of Hull Kingston Rovers and frequently appeared on television, occasionally alongside his wife Pauline.
