John Prescott’s funeral will be held in Hull on Thursday (Image: Getty)
Hundreds of John Prescott’s family, friends and colleagues will pay tribute to his life and impressive political career at a funeral service today.
The heavyweight and former Hull MP, who served as deputy PM to between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20, 2024, aged 86 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.
Once famed for the forthright political style he brought to New Labour, Mr Prescott spent the final few months of his life surrounded by loved ones in a Hull care home.
His wife Pauline announced that he had been living with after his death, sharing that he had passed away peacefully, “surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery”.
A photograph posted by the politician’s family of the couple at a birthday celebration showed the “warmth” spoken of by his colleagues persisting to the end, with the partners of 40 years smiling and holding a cake commemorating Pauline’s 82nd birthday.
They also thanked the “amazing NHS doctors and nurses” who cared for Mr Prescott after his stroke in 2019 and the “dedicated staff” at the care home where he was treated for Alzheimer’s until his death.
:
John Prescott’s family shared an unseen photo of the ex-MP and his wife to announce his death (Image: X)
Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown shed light on how the ex-trade union activist had coped with the neurodegenerative condition.
“I’ve talked to John over these last few months when he had declining health,” Mr Brown told Radio 4 in November. “What was amazing was how he dealt with his Alzheimer’s, he always knew who you were but just wasn’t sure what to say.”
“It was his warmth,” he added. “He was always praising people.”
Referring to Mr Prescott’s thorny relationship with fellow Labour minister Peter Mandelson, whom he once compared to his pet crab in a , Mr Brown said: “I think he even made up with Peter Mandelson in the last few months.”
“We wish to thank everyone for their love and support on the passing of our husband, father and grandfather,” the Prescott family said in a statement ahead of the funeral.
“To hear so many wonderful tributes from people who knew John has been a great source of comfort to us as we dealt with our grief.
“We hope the service will be an opportunity to celebrate his life and his love of Hull and its people.”
Don’t miss… [REPORT] [REPORT] [POLL]
Gordon Brown said Prescott was always ‘warm and praising people’ (Image: Getty)
The MP for Hull East, who served in government for 40 years before he was ennobled in 2010, is remembered by many for his temper.
A particularly fiery and infamous moment saw him punch a protester who had thrown an egg at him during an election campaign visit to Wales in 2001.
However, his humour was as sharp as his right hook, and during an appearance on Top Gear a decade later, he told : “When Tony Blair asked me what had happened, I said I was carrying out his orders, you told us to connect with the electorate so I did.”
Mr Prescott left the House of Commons after Tony Blair stood down in 2007 and entered the Lords in 2010 as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull. He stood down from the House of Lords in July 2024 after suffering from poor health.
His funeral will be held at Hull Minster on Thursday, January 30. Instead of flowers, his family has asked for donations to Alzheimer’s Research UK.