Former deputy prime minister John Prescott He died at the age of 86 after battling Alzheimer’s, his family announced.

Gazi, one of the important figures of the Labor Party Sir Tony Blair‘s New Labor project died peacefully in a care home surrounded by his family.

During a parliamentary career that spanned 50 years, Lord Prescott served as deputy prime minister for a decade following the party’s landslide victory in 1997.

Although known for his fiery temperament, he played a crucial role in mediating the often strained relationship between Sir Tony and the then Chancellor Gordon Brown.

The former MP for Kingston upon Hull East, a seat he held for four decades, made headlines in 2001 when he punched a protester who threw an egg at him during an election campaign in North Wales.

But in his tribute to Lord Prescott, Sir Tony’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell said the government “couldn’t have asked for a better peacemaker”, adding: “He was combative, of course, but he had a tremendous heart and a great capacity for friendship.”

His efforts as a cabinet minister to implement the Kyoto climate change agreement in the UK also earned him the nickname “two Jags” for driving two Jaguars for short journeys while encouraging people to drive less.

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 most prominent figures in the Labor Party.

Although a staunch ally of Sir Tony throughout his tenure, Lord Prescott later criticized aspects of New Labour’s legacy, including the controversial decision to invade Iraq.

The long-serving deputy prime minister, a former trade unionist and sailor, was widely known for his commitment to social justice and environmental protection.

He was seen by many as the man who carried the torch of the traditional labor movement within his party at a time when the party was being radically modernized by Sir Tony and Mr Brown.

Paying tribute to his former deputy, Sir Tony described him as “one of the most talented people I have ever encountered in politics” and said he was devastated by the loss.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: “He was a giant and a titan of the Labor movement.

“When you hear the term working-class hero, John fit that description.”

Listing his “great achievements”, Brown noted his work on the Kyoto Agreement, devolution, and the repair and improvement of housing.

He continued: “He was always a unifying force. As deputy leader he realized the passion for unity in the Labor Party. He was important in keeping the party together, especially on Iraq.

“Despite his image as an uncompromising, tough guy, John really wanted people to work together.”

He noted: “John always talked about enduring values ​​in Labor policies, so his values ​​never changed.”

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer said Lord Prescott was “a true giant of the Labor movement” and one of the “key architects” of Labour’s last government.

Former MP Harriet Harman, who replaced Lord Prescott as the party’s deputy leader, said he was “a huge figure in bringing Labor back into government”.

He described him as “a combative unifier who outsmarted his detractors” and added: “He reassured Labor traditionalists that there was a place for them in New Labour.”

Recalling the moment Lord Prescott punched a protester who threw an egg at him in 2001, Sir Tony told BBC Radio 4: Today program to which he replied “well, John is John” at the next press conference.

He said: “Someone broke an egg on his head and he turned up, turned around and punched the guy, knocking him to the ground.

“This of course caused a huge debate… The next day during the election campaign we had to hold a press conference and some people were saying: Look, that deputy prime minister – you know, you can’t do something like that. The deputy prime minister is punching the voters.

“And then there were other people who said yes, but you know… he got hit on the head with an egg, turned around and hit the guy, and a lot of people think that’s fair.”

Sir Tony said a long debate ensued, adding: “When I was finally asked about it at the press conference I said ‘John is John’.”

Lord Prescott’s wife Pauline and his sons Johnathan and David expressed their sadness in their statement and said that the years he spent serving the people of Hull were his greatest honor.

They said he died “surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.”

“From his time as a waiter on cruise ships to becoming Britain’s longest-serving deputy prime minister, John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment.”

Lord Prescott resigned from the House of Lords in July this year due to ongoing health problems.

Official records reveal that he has spoken in parliament only once since suffering a stroke in 2019 and has not participated in a vote since February 2023.