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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.

In Pictures: How a Party Veteran Maintained New Labour’s Connection to Traditional Supporters — John Prescott at work in 1974 (Archive/PA)

John Prescott stands down as MP — John Prescott after swimming two miles down the Thames as part of a protest against the Government’s policy of dumping nuclear waste at sea (PA)

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.

The new Shadow Cabinet at House of Commons — John Prescott as a member of Neil Kinnock’s shadow cabinet (PA)

John Prescott and wife Pauline with Michael Foot at a thanksgiving service for late Labour leader John Smith (John Giles/PA)

Labour Party conference — Then-prime minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie join then-deputy PM John Prescott and wife Pauline on stage (Andrew Parsons/PA)

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.

Politicians hit by eggs — John Prescott being hit by an egg while surrounded by protesters in the seaside resort of Rhyl (David Kendall/PA)

Brown takes over — John Prescott and Gordon Brown sit with Tony Blair during his final Prime Minister’s Questions (Archive/PA)

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.

Prescott opens site of new pavilion in Hull — Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and his wife Pauline cross a footbridge during a visit to East Park in his constituency of Hull (John Giles/PA)

Labour leadership contest — Former deputy prime minister John Prescott holds up his Labour membership card (Jonathan Brady/PA)

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.

General Election 2017 — Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn with former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott (Chris Radburn/PA)

Prescott launches Battle Bus — Comedian Eddie Izzard in Liverpool supporting John Prescott at the launch of his battle bus (Archive/PA)

John Prescott saddles a Police Harley Davidson at the opening of the new Harley Davidson garage in North Tyneside (Owen Humphreys/PA)

New peers introduced to the House of Lords — John Prescott is introduced to the House of Lords in London (PA)

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.