Tony Blair leads tributes to John Prescott after his death aged 86

Former lawman premier curate John Prescott has died aged 86 pursuing a conflict with Alzheimer’s, with Sir Tony Blair starring tributes to him arsenic a “committed and loyal” nationalist servant.

Lord Prescott’s family, who announced his death, said helium had “spent his beingness trying to amended the lives of others, warring for societal justness and protecting the environment”.

The erstwhile commercialized national activistic and ex-merchant seaman died “peacefully” and surrounded by relatives astatine his attraction home, they said.

Former premier curate Sir Tony said helium was “devastated” by Lord Prescott’s death, adding: “He was 1 of the astir talented radical I ever encountered successful politics; 1 of the astir committed and loyal; and decidedly the astir unusual.”

Sir Tony continued: “He volition deservedly inhabit a peculiar spot successful the pantheon of the Labour leadership; helium volition beryllium mourned by his galore friends and fans astir the satellite and for maine personally, contiguous is simply a time of profound sadness but besides immense pridefulness successful having known him and worked with him: a large antheral and large servant of state and party.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Prescott was a “true elephantine of the Labour movement” and 1 of the “key architects” of the past Labour government.

Lord Prescott was a cardinal fig of the New Labour project, seen by galore arsenic custodian of the party’s accepted values successful the look of a modernising leadership.

He was ennobled successful 2010 and introduced to the precocious enclosure arsenic Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull having served for 4 decades arsenic an MP for the city.

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.

“John spent his beingness trying to amended the lives of others, warring for societal justness and protecting the environment, doing truthful from his clip arsenic a waiter connected the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest serving lawman premier minister.

“John dearly loved his location of Hull and representing its radical successful Parliament for 40 years was his top honour. We would similar to convey the astonishing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him aft his changeable successful 2019 and the dedicated unit astatine the attraction location wherever helium passed distant aft latterly surviving with Alzheimer’s.

“In lieu of flowers and if you privation to bash so, you tin donate to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

“As you tin imagine, our household needs to process our grief truthful we respectfully petition clip and abstraction to mourn successful private. Thank you.”

Former US vice president Al Gore, who worked with Lord Prescott connected the Kyoto Protocol clime alteration statement successful 1997, said helium had “never worked with anyone successful authorities — connected my broadside of the pond oregon his — rather similar John Prescott”.

Mr Gore said successful a statement: “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.

“He fought similar hellhole to negociate the Kyoto Protocol and was an unwavering champion of clime enactment for decades to come. I’m everlastingly grateful to John for that committedness to solving the clime situation and volition miss him arsenic a beloved friend.”

Lord Prescott ceased to beryllium a subordinate of the precocious House successful July this twelvemonth aft facing wellness difficulties.

He had lone spoken erstwhile successful the enclosure since suffering a changeable successful 2019, authoritative records show, and had not voted since February 2023.

Over a parliamentary vocation spanning much than fractional a century, Lord Prescott served for 10 years arsenic lawman premier curate aft Labour’s 1997 wide predetermination landslide.

At times short-tempered, helium erstwhile famously punched a protester who threw an ovum astatine him during an predetermination run sojourn to North Wales successful 2001.

But during overmuch of his clip successful office, helium acted arsenic a mediator successful the often turbulent narration betwixt Sir Tony and chancellor Gordon Brown.

He besides oversaw the environment, transport and the regions, a little which included helping to negociate the planetary Kyoto Protocol connected clime change.

Lord Prescott was a loyal protagonist of Sir Tony successful bureau but subsequently captious of parts of New Labour’s legacy, denouncing Britain’s engagement successful the Iraq War.

He besides powerfully defended Jeremy Corbyn during his clip arsenic enactment person successful the look of fierce criticism.

Born successful Prestatyn, Wales, connected May 31 1938, the lad of a railwayman, Lord Prescott near schoolhouse astatine the property of 15 to enactment arsenic a trainee cook and past arsenic a steward connected the Cunard Line earlier entering politics.

In a backstage missive successful 2007, Sir Tony said his erstwhile deputy’s relation “smoothing retired problems, sorting retired colleagues and trouble-shooting” had been an “integral portion of getting things done”.

The erstwhile premier curate said: “The wholly unsocial Prescott blend of charm and brutality – made ever much effectual by the unpredictability of which would beryllium predominant – got you done the decade, kept the authorities unneurotic and supra all, gave maine a batch of fun. I was fortunate to person you arsenic my deputy.”