Tony Blair ‘devastated’ by loss of life of Prescott
Labour former prime minister Sir Tony Blair stated he was “devastated” by the loss of life of Lord Prescott, and described his deputy as “one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics”.
Blair stated:
Though all of us knew that the tip was approaching and was inevitable, I’m devastated by John’s passing. He was one of the vital gifted individuals I ever encountered in politics; one of the vital dedicated and constant; and undoubtedly probably the most uncommon.
There was nothing about John which fitted standard knowledge. He was from proud conventional working class inventory but understood instinctively and fully the aspirations of that class and their want to raised themselves.
He was liberal and tolerant, but immediately illiberal of any overly liberal center class dismissal of the distress suffered by poor inside metropolis communities from crime and drug abuse. He may discuss within the bluntest and generally bluest language, however it hid a primary price mind which meant he thought as deeply about points as a lot as he cared about them.
It’s no exaggeration to say the Labour Celebration may by no means have received three consecutive full phrases with out John. He was a commanding presence. He represented the wing of the occasion which was not New Labour, however he did it in a means which by no means decreased the effectiveness of our attraction and certainly prolonged it, broadening the bottom of our help.
He had extraordinary accomplishments: he revived lots of Britain’s inside cities, was liable for the refurbishment of 1000’s of council properties, the revival of British transport, accomplished the Channel Tunnel Rail Hyperlink, established the Coalfield Communities Belief to breathe life again into villages and cities affected by the closure of mines; and was Britain’s lead negotiator for the Kyoto local weather treaty, the world’s first try and agree a world response to local weather change.
Key occasions
Lord Prescott’s spouse and two sons stated he had been in a care house lately dwelling with Alzheimer’s. Hilary Evans-Newton, chief government at Alzheimer’s Analysis UK, stated:
It’s heartbreaking to listen to that former deputy prime minister, Lord John Prescott, one of the vital outstanding political figures of our technology, has died with Alzheimer’s. Our ideas are together with his household and family members throughout this tough time.
It’s tragic what number of lives are being misplaced to dementia, the main explanation for loss of life within the UK.
We’re extremely moved by Lord Prescott’s household, who’ve requested for donations to Alzheimer’s Analysis UK, in lieu of flowers.
Because the UK’s main dementia analysis charity, we’re accelerating progress in the direction of a remedy, so nobody’s life has to finish this fashion.
London mayor Sadiq Khan stated Lord Prescott was a “true giant” of the Labour motion. Khan wrote on X:
Unhappy to listen to the information about John Prescott. A stunning man, proud commerce unionist, good campaigner and somebody who dedicated his complete life to serving to others. The final Labour Authorities merely couldn’t have achieved all it did with out him. A real large of the Labour motion.
Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey stated:
I’m deeply saddened by the information of John Prescott passing away and my ideas and prayers are together with his family and friends. John Prescott will probably be remembered as a towering determine in British politics and his unwavering tenacity on the causes he championed must be a lesson to us all. His affect on our trendy society will nonetheless be felt for years to return and his legacy remembered far into the long run.
Recalling the second John Prescott punched a protester who threw an egg at him in 2001,
Sir Tony Blair informed BBC Radio 4’s At present programme that he answered “well, John is John” at a subsequent press convention.
Blair stated: “Someone smashed an egg on his head, and he turned up, and he turned around, and he punched the guy and laid him out.
“This caused a huge sort of fracas, obviously… We had to give a press conference in the election campaign the next day, and some people were saying, well, look, he’s deputy prime minister – you know, you can’t have a deputy prime minister thumping a voter.
“And then there were other people who said, yeah, but you know… he had this egg slammed in his head, and he turned around and whacked the guy, and a lot of people think, well, fair enough.”
A protracted debate ensued, Blair stated, including: “Finally, at the press conference, when I was asked about that, I just said, well, John, is John. And so was that supposed to be an answer? I said, Yeah, that’s an answer, that’s as much as you can say.”
Ed Miliband, the vitality secretary and former Labour chief stated Lord Prescott was a “titan of the Labour movement”.
Miliband wrote on X:
I’m deeply saddened to listen to of the loss of life of John Prescott. He was a titan of the Labour motion, a singular and irreplaceable fighter for justice.
He fought for social and financial equality all his life, championed the reason for the atmosphere and confirmed how politics may change lives for the higher.
John represented the very best of Labour values and I’ll at all times be glad about the help he supplied to me as Labour chief. I prolong my deepest condolences to Pauline, Jonathan and David.
Former Conservative Celebration chief Lord Hague stated Lord Prescott was a “formidable debater”.
Posting on X, Hague stated:
John Prescott was one of many nice figures of our political period—passionate, loyal, and vigorous. I’ll always remember our many full of life exchanges throughout the despatch field. John was a formidable debater, unflinching in his dedication to his values, and he had a singular skill to talk on to the issues of the individuals he represented. It was some extent of delight for each of us that we hailed from Rotherham; though it formed us in several methods, we shared a sure bluntness in our exchanges—although in true Yorkshire trend, John often received straight to the purpose sooner than I did! John’s legacy as a voice for working individuals and a relentless advocate for Labour will endure. My ideas are together with his household and family members at this very unhappy time.
Sir Tony Blair’s tribute continued:
I relied on him many occasions: when in issue, below assault; and fewer well-known after I wanted somebody whose intestine intuition I trusted higher than my very own.
To say we have been companions would by no means seize the character of our relationship. There was nothing formal about it. We met and talked commonly. Guidelines of protocol have been forged apart. Debates have been had which could possibly be fierce. However as soon as concluded, the frequent line was stored.
The reality is for all of the difficulties and the variations and the jokes about us each and our ‘odd couple relationship’, we had developed a real admiration, respect and affection for one another.
Beneath what could possibly be a fierce exterior, and a way some undoubtedly discovered intimidating, beat a loving, form and compassionate human coronary heart. John was nearly as good a good friend as you would ever hope to have, with a deep sensitivity, even vulnerability.
He’ll deservedly occupy a particular place within the pantheon of the Labour management; he will probably be mourned by his many buddies and followers all over the world and for me personally, in the present day is a day of profound disappointment but additionally immense delight in having identified him and labored with him: a terrific man and nice servant of nation and occasion.
Tony Blair ‘devastated’ by loss of life of Prescott
Labour former prime minister Sir Tony Blair stated he was “devastated” by the loss of life of Lord Prescott, and described his deputy as “one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics”.
Blair stated:
Though all of us knew that the tip was approaching and was inevitable, I’m devastated by John’s passing. He was one of the vital gifted individuals I ever encountered in politics; one of the vital dedicated and constant; and undoubtedly probably the most uncommon.
There was nothing about John which fitted standard knowledge. He was from proud conventional working class inventory but understood instinctively and fully the aspirations of that class and their want to raised themselves.
He was liberal and tolerant, but immediately illiberal of any overly liberal center class dismissal of the distress suffered by poor inside metropolis communities from crime and drug abuse. He may discuss within the bluntest and generally bluest language, however it hid a primary price mind which meant he thought as deeply about points as a lot as he cared about them.
It’s no exaggeration to say the Labour Celebration may by no means have received three consecutive full phrases with out John. He was a commanding presence. He represented the wing of the occasion which was not New Labour, however he did it in a means which by no means decreased the effectiveness of our attraction and certainly prolonged it, broadening the bottom of our help.
He had extraordinary accomplishments: he revived lots of Britain’s inside cities, was liable for the refurbishment of 1000’s of council properties, the revival of British transport, accomplished the Channel Tunnel Rail Hyperlink, established the Coalfield Communities Belief to breathe life again into villages and cities affected by the closure of mines; and was Britain’s lead negotiator for the Kyoto local weather treaty, the world’s first try and agree a world response to local weather change.
Martin Belam
Talking on the BBC Radio 4 At present programme, the BBC’s political editor Chris Mason described John Prescott as a bit of “blunt grit” among the many “slick middle class polish of New Labour.”
He informed listeners Prescott was “proudly working class, proud of his trade union background, and proud to bind his party’s past with its present.”
Mason quoted former prime minister Tony Blair in his memoirs, recalling of Prescott that “he could be maddening, he could be dangerous, he could be absurd, he could be magnificent, [but] never dull, placid, uneventful, forgettable.”
Jon Trickett, the MP for Yorkshire County, wrote on X a short time in the past:
“John Prescott was a Labour giant. I knew him well. V sad to hear of his passing. Mining communities owe him a debt for settling the enormous claim for industrial injuries. In my constit over 10000 families received compensation which amounted to £100m plus Thank you my mate.”
Right here is Keir Starmer’s tribute on X in full: He wrote:
“I’m deeply saddened to listen to of the loss of life of John Prescott.
John was a real large of the Labour motion. He was a staunch defender of working individuals and a proud commerce unionist. Throughout a decade as deputhy Prime Minister, he was one of many key architects of a Labour Authorities that reworked the lives of thousands and thousands of individuals throughout the nation.
A lot of John’s work set the trail for these of us lucky sufficient to observe. From main local weather negotiations to preventing regional inequality, his legacy will stay on nicely past his lifetime.
Throughout the Labour Celebration and the union motion he will probably be remembered for his conviction, braveness and energy of character. His ardour , power of character and delight in his working-class roots was key to his authenticity – an honesty that was recognised and revered throughout the political divide and throughout the nation.
On behalf of the Labour Celebration, I ship my condolences to Pauline and all his household, to town of Hull which he served as MP for forty years, and to all those that knew and cherished him. Might he relaxation in peace.
