{"id":18082,"date":"2024-11-21T07:46:26","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T07:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=18082"},"modified":"2024-11-21T07:46:26","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T07:46:26","slug":"john-prescott-death-former-british-deputy-prime-minister-dies-aged-86","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/?p=18082","title":{"rendered":"John Prescott death: Former British deputy prime minister dies aged 86"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"main\">\n<div data-testid=\"nsc-wrapper-support-us\">\n<div class=\"hydrate-root\" data-component=\"SupportNSCNative\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-0 jBfdop\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-1 hKRbzg\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-hez36s-2 cKIkhp\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-8 dWUzhG\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-13 doTReP\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-12 iGXncB\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-hez36s-7 hKrnEq\">\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 hlPMMm\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 hlPMMm\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 hlPMMm\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 euTVax\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-hez36s-4 bErStG sc-hez36s-14 ggPDxB\"><span data-testid=\"support-nsc-dropdown-mobile-open\" class=\"sc-hez36s-6 jWuFRk\"><span class=\"sc-hez36s-5 vaVnf\">Close<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 kMSyUM sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-a5wy94-0 jhbxrS\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-hez36s-4 bErStG sc-hez36s-15 gibhIT\"><span data-testid=\"support-nsc-dropdown-tablet\" class=\"sc-hez36s-6 jWuFRk\"><span class=\"sc-hez36s-5 vaVnf\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 kMSyUM sc-culv3z-0 jIhHch sc-a5wy94-0 jhbxrS\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Former <a href=\"\/topic\/labour\">Labour <\/a><a href=\"\/topic\/deputy-prime-minister\">deputy prime minister <\/a><a href=\"\/topic\/john-prescott\">John Prescott<\/a> has died at 86 after battling Alzheimer\u2019s, his family announced.<\/p>\n<p>The Labour veteran, <a href=\"\/news\/uk\/john-prescott-conrad-black-house-of-lords-jeffrey-archer-blair-b2577454.html\">who represented Kingston upon Hull East as an MP for four decades<\/a>, passed away peacefully in his care home surrounded by family. A former trade unionist and merchant seaman, Lord Prescott was widely known for his commitment to social justice and environmental protection.<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David expressed their sorrow, calling his years serving the people of Hull his \u201cgreatest honour.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>They said: \u201cWe are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJohn spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain\u2019s longest-serving deputy prime minister.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-482ou5-0 fcqzht\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-1352515502.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-1352515502.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-1352515502.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"John Prescott passed away after battling Alzheimer\u2019s\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-ohzviw-0 gdZNrl inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-12798\"><span class=\"sc-ohzviw-1 ewSUe\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">John Prescott passed away after battling Alzheimer\u2019s<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 izyooE\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Getty Images<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cJohn dearly loved his home of Hull and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe would like to thank the amazing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he passed away after latterly living with Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn lieu of flowers and if you wish to do so, you can donate to Alzheimer\u2019s Research UK.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs you can imagine, our family needs to process our grief so we respectfully request time and space to mourn in private.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThank you.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPauline, Johnathan and David Prescott.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-482ou5-0 gYkxPO\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471814450.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471814450.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471814450.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"File: Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Prime Minister, Lord John Prescott climbs into the ring to spar with journalist Michael Crick during a visit to an Amateur Boxing Club on 1 May 2015\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-ohzviw-0 gdZNrl inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-12799\"><span class=\"sc-ohzviw-1 ewSUe\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">File: Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy Prime Minister, Lord John Prescott climbs into the ring to spar with journalist Michael Crick during a visit to an Amateur Boxing Club on 1 May 2015<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 izyooE\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Getty Images<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Lord Prescott stepped down from the House of Lords in July this year due to ongoing health challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Official records reveal he had spoken in the chamber only once since suffering a stroke in 2019 and had not participated in a vote since February 2023.<\/p>\n<p>During a parliamentary career spanning 50 years, Lord Prescott served as deputy prime minister for a decade following Labour\u2019s landslide victory in 1997. Known for his fiery temperament, he made headlines in 2001 when he punched a protester who had thrown an egg at him during an election campaign in North Wales.<\/p>\n<p>Despite his blunt demeanor, he played a crucial role in mediating the often fractious relationship between Sir Tony Blair and then chancellor Gordon Brown. In addition, he held responsibilities for the environment, transport, and the regions, notably contributing to the negotiation of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.<\/p>\n<p>Though a steadfast ally of Sir Tony during his tenure, Lord Prescott later criticised aspects of New Labour\u2019s legacy, including the controversial decision to invade Iraq.<\/p>\n<p>Born in Prestatyn, Wales, on 31 May 1938, Prescott rose from humble beginnings as the son of a railway worker to become one of the Labour Party\u2019s most prominent figures.<\/p>\n<p>Leaving school at 15, he began his working life as a trainee chef before joining the Cunard Line as a steward. It was during his time at sea that he developed his passion for boxing, becoming a skilled amateur fighter, while also engaging in Labour Party politics and the National Union of Seamen.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-482ou5-2 eOHevC image align-none\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cpcmmN\">\n<div data-gallery-length=\"3\" class=\"sc-482ou5-0 jvgbSo\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471825810.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471825810.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.independent.co.uk\/2024\/11\/21\/06\/GettyImages-471825810.jpg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy prime minister, Lord John Prescott gives a speech to party members in front of Louise Baldock\u2019s campaign office on 1 May 2015\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 iSVhwZ inline-gallery-btn\"\/><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"sc-ohzviw-0 gdZNrl inline-gallery-btn\" id=\"trigger-autogallery-12800\"><span class=\"sc-ohzviw-1 ewSUe\">open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 hiCdLa liXvvg\">Former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Deputy prime minister, Lord John Prescott gives a speech to party members in front of Louise Baldock\u2019s campaign office on 1 May 2015<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 izyooE\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->Getty Images<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>In 1966, he played a pivotal role in organising a seamen\u2019s strike, a move criticised by then-prime minister Harold Wilson, who labelled the organisers a \u201ctight-knit group of politically motivated men\u201d. Despite this, Lord Prescott\u2019s political career advanced, and he was selected as Labour\u2019s candidate for Hull East. After a failed bid in Southport in 1966, he secured the safe Hull East seat in the 1970 general election.<\/p>\n<p>Initially aligned with the Labour left, Lord Prescott opposed Britain\u2019s entry into the European Community. By the early 1980s, however, he had moderated his stance, backing Neil Kinnock\u2019s successful bid for party leadership in 1983. Although Kinnock brought Lord Prescott into his shadow cabinet, their relationship soured in 1988 when Lord Prescott unsuccessfully challenged deputy leader Roy Hattersley.<\/p>\n<p>Following Labour\u2019s defeat in the 1992 general election, he made another bid for the deputy leadership, but lost to Dame Margaret Beckett. Despite this setback, he found common ground with party leader John Smith, whose reforms Prescott helped champion with a stirring speech at the party conference.<\/p>\n<p>After Smith\u2019s sudden death in 1994, Lord Prescott contested both the leadership and deputy leadership roles. Though Sir Tony decisively won the leadership, Prescott triumphed in the deputy race, defeating Beckett and solidifying his position as a central figure in the New Labour era.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr style=\"border-top: 2px solid #ccc; margin-top: 20px;\">\n<p><em>Source: <\/em> <em><a href=\"https:\/\/politics.einnews.com\/article\/762496820\/DyB_ee5LbK-i-Fdl?ref=rss&amp;ecode=kmfm9fDbRbj4OPCJ\">politics.einnews.com\u2026<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18082","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18082"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18082\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18082"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gpt.m2mbeta.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}