John Prescott hailed as Labour 'titan' as tributes flood in - 'no one quite like him'

John Prescott, who served arsenic Deputy Prime Minister and Labour MP for 4 decades, died peacefully connected Wednesday astatine a attraction location wherever helium had been surviving with Alzheimer's

John Prescott has been hailed arsenic a Labour titan and leader of moving radical arsenic tributes flooded successful aft his decease astatine property 86.

The erstwhile Deputy Prime Minister and Labour MP for 4 decades died peacefully connected Wednesday astatine a attraction location wherever helium had been surviving with Alzheimer's.

In a connection released aft his death, his woman Pauline and sons, Johnathan and David, said that representing the radical of Hull had been "his top honour".

"We are profoundly saddened to pass you that our beloved husband, begetter and grandfather, John Prescott, passed distant peacefully yesterday astatine the property of 86," they said. "He did truthful surrounded by the emotion of his household and the jazz euphony of Marian Montgomery."

Sir Tony Blair said determination was "no 1 rather similar him" successful British authorities who was "key" to holding the New Labour authorities together. The ex-merchant seaman Lord Prescott, who was described arsenic an inspiration to working-class boys, served arsenic lawman PM for a decennary aft Labour’s 1997 landslide predetermination victory.

He was known to person acted arsenic a “marriage counsellor” for his mediating relation betwixt Sir Tony and his past Chancellor Gordon Brown. Sir Tony added: "He looked upon himself arsenic a span - and so helium was a bridge. He was a captious portion of keeping the full amusement together."

Referring to the infamous 2001 incidental of Prescott throwing a punch astatine a protester who threw an ovum astatine him, Sir Tony said “there were nary rules that helium truly abided by”.

In his ain tribute, Mr Brown said: “Few execute thing akin to heroic presumption successful their ain lifetime, peculiarly erstwhile having to woody with the compromises of being successful government, but John Prescott became - and volition stay - a fable of the Labour Party.”

He added: "John Lennon said the moving people leader is simply a hard happening to be, but I deliberation John would beryllium conscionable good with being remembered that way.

“He wanted the bully things successful beingness for everyone and not conscionable himself. And helium showed that Britain tin beryllium a state wherever if you enactment hard you tin capable your potential."

Brown besides championed his aboriginal enactment connected the clime situation alongside erstwhile US vice president Al Gore, who worked with connected the 1997 Kyoto clime agreement. The American person said helium had "never worked with anyone successful authorities - connected my broadside of the pond oregon his - rather similar John Prescott".

He added: "He possessed an inherent quality to link with radical astir the issues that mattered to them - a endowment that others walk years studying and cultivating, but that was 2nd quality to him.”

Labour seasoned Harriet Harman, who succeeded him arsenic lawman person of the party, said helium was a "combative unifier who outsmarted those who underestimated him". The erstwhile Home Secretary David Blunkett, who served successful Sir Tony Blair's Cabinet described him arsenic "tenacious, sometimes furious and ever committed".

In a connection connected X, helium wrote: "It is often said that idiosyncratic is simply a 'once off'. But successful John's case, it was perfectly true. Tenacious, sometimes furious, ever committed and wholly loyal to the Labour cause.”

New Labour designer Lord Peter Mandelson, who Lord Prescott erstwhile compared to a crab helium had named "Peter" successful 1997, said the brace had made bid successful their last chat.

Lord Mandelson said helium was "absolutely impossible" to enactment with but was "loyal" and "wanted to marque it work". He said: "When I accidental helium was benignant of courageous, helium was. When I accidental helium was loyal, helium was. When I accidental helium was determined, helium was.

"He was ever determined to get his ain mode connected immoderate peculiar contented astatine immoderate fixed moment. Right up until the constituent he'd say, 'OK, I'll bash this for you. You bash this for me. As agelong arsenic you screen this off, I'll happily spell on with it.'

In the Commons Keir Starmer besides paid tribute to a “one-off” and “true giant” of the Labour movement. He said: “A antheral who fought for working-class ambition due to the fact that helium lived it. As 1 of the cardinal architects of a Labour government, John achieved that uncommon thing, helium changed people's lives and helium acceptable the way for america each to follow, and I volition ever beryllium grateful to him for that.”

And the Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle described Lord Prescott arsenic a “towering figure”. He said clip would beryllium acceptable speech adjacent week for MPs’ tributes successful the chamber.