92.1.163.144 (talk) Undid revision 344433606 by RaseaC (talk)He's not Welsh though. |
Lordrosemount (talk | contribs) →Environment, Transport and the Regions: Ministers do not 'sign into law'; they make regulations as empowered by acts of Parliament as signed into law by the Sovereign, who is the only person competent to do so. |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007}} |
|||
{{Otherpeople}} |
|||
{{Other people}} |
|||
{{Infobox Deputy Prime Minister |
|||
{{pp-move-indef}} |
|||
|honorific-prefix = <small>[[The Right Honourable]]</small><br> |
|||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}} |
|||
|name = John Prescott |
|||
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}} |
|||
|honorific-suffix = <br><small>[[Member of Parliament|MP]]</small> |
|||
{{Infobox officeholder |
|||
|image = John Prescott on his last day as Deputy Prime Minister, June 2007.jpg |
|||
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] |
|||
|imagesize = 200px |
|||
| |
| name = The Lord Prescott |
||
| honorific-suffix = |
|||
|primeminister = [[Tony Blair]] |
|||
| image = John Prescott official portrait (cropped).jpg |
|||
|term_start = 8 June 2001 |
|||
| |
| caption = Official portrait, {{circa|1997}} |
||
| office = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] |
|||
|predecessor = [[Michael Heseltine]] |
|||
| |
| primeminister = [[Tony Blair]] |
||
| |
| term_start = 2 May 1997 |
||
| term_end = 27 June 2007 |
|||
|primeminister2 = [[Tony Blair]] |
|||
| predecessor = [[Michael Heseltine]] |
|||
|term_start2 = 2 May 1997 |
|||
| successor = [[Nick Clegg]]{{efn|Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 11 May 2010.}} |
|||
| office1 = [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] |
|||
| leader1 = Tony Blair |
|||
| term_start1 = 21 July 1994 |
|||
| term_end1 = 24 June 2007 |
|||
| predecessor1 = [[Margaret Beckett]] |
|||
| successor1 = [[Harriet Harman]] |
|||
|office2 = [[First Secretary of State]] |
|||
|primeminister2 = Tony Blair |
|||
|term_start2 = 8 June 2001 |
|||
|term_end2 = 27 June 2007 |
|term_end2 = 27 June 2007 |
||
|predecessor2 = |
|predecessor2 = Michael Heseltine{{efn|Office vacant from 2 May 1997 to 8 June 2001.}} |
||
|successor2 = |
|successor2 = [[The Lord Mandelson]]{{efn|Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 5 June 2009.}} |
||
| |
|office3 = [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]] |
||
| |
|primeminister3 = Tony Blair |
||
| |
|term_start3 = 2 May 1997 |
||
| |
|term_end3 = 8 June 2001 |
||
| |
|predecessor3 = {{ubl|[[John Gummer]] ([[Secretary of State for the Environment|Environment]])|[[George Young, Baron Young of Cookham|George Young]] ([[Secretary of State for Transport|Transport]])}} |
||
| |
|successor3 = {{ubl|Margaret Beckett ([[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs|Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]])|[[Stephen Byers]] ([[Secretary of State for Transport|Transport, Local Government and the Regions]])}} |
||
| |
| office4 = [[Member of the House of Lords]] |
||
| |
| status4 = [[Lord Temporal]] |
||
| termlabel4 = [[Life peer]]age |
|||
|term_start3 = 21 July 1994 |
|||
| term_start4 = 8 July 2010 |
|||
|term_end3 = 24 June 2007 |
|||
| office5 = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Kingston upon Hull East]] |
|||
|predecessor3 = [[Margaret Beckett]] |
|||
| term_start5 = 18 June 1970 |
|||
|successor3 = [[Harriet Harman]] |
|||
| term_end5 = 12 April 2010 |
|||
|constituency_MP5 = [[Kingston upon Hull East (UK Parliament constituency)|Hull East]] |
|||
| predecessor5 = [[Harry Pursey]] |
|||
|majority5 = 11,747 (37.7%) |
|||
| successor5 = [[Karl Turner (British politician)|Karl Turner]] |
|||
|term_start5 = 18 June 1970 |
|||
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|[[Shadow cabinet]] posts |
|||
|term_end5 = |
|||
| cont = yes |
|||
|predecessor5 = [[Harry Pursey]] |
|||
| titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder |
|||
|successor5 = |
|||
| embed = yes |
|||
|birth_date = {{bda|1938|5|31|df=y}} |
|||
| office6 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|Shadow Secretary of State for Employment]] |
|||
|birth_place = [[Prestatyn]], [[Flintshire (historic)|Flintshire]], [[Wales]] |
|||
| leader6 = {{ubl|[[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]|Margaret Beckett (acting)}} |
|||
|death_date = |
|||
| term_start6 = 21 October 1993 |
|||
|death_place = |
|||
| term_end6 = 21 July 1994 |
|||
|party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] |
|||
| predecessor6 = [[Frank Dobson]] |
|||
|spouse = [[Pauline Prescott]] |
|||
| successor6 = Harriet Harman |
|||
|alma_mater = [[Ruskin College]]<br>[[University of Hull]] |
|||
| leader7 = [[Neil Kinnock]] |
|||
| term_start7 = 26 October 1984 |
|||
| term_end7 = 13 July 1987 |
|||
| predecessor7 = John Smith |
|||
| successor7 = [[Michael Meacher]] |
|||
| office8 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Transport]] |
|||
| leader8 = {{ubl|Neil Kinnock|John Smith}} |
|||
| term_start8 = 23 November 1988 |
|||
| term_end8 = 21 October 1993 |
|||
| predecessor8 = [[Robert Hughes, Baron Hughes of Woodside|Robert Hughes]] |
|||
| successor8 = Frank Dobson |
|||
| leader9 = Neil Kinnock |
|||
| term_start9 = 31 October 1983 |
|||
| term_end9 = 26 October 1984 |
|||
| predecessor9 = [[Albert Booth]] |
|||
| successor9 = [[Gwyneth Dunwoody]] |
|||
| office10 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Energy]] |
|||
| leader10 = Neil Kinnock |
|||
| term_start10 = 13 July 1987 |
|||
| term_end10 = 23 November 1988 |
|||
| predecessor10 = [[Stan Orme]] |
|||
| successor10 = Tony Blair |
|||
{{collapsed infobox section end}} |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
| birth_name = John Leslie Prescott |
|||
'''John Leslie Prescott''' (born 31 May 1938) is a [[Welsh people|Welsh]]-born [[British]] politician, who has been the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Kingston upon Hull East (UK Parliament constituency)|Hull East]] since [[United Kingdom general election, 1970|1970]];<ref name="IcWales">{{cite web|title=WalesOnline - News - Wales News - John Prescott learns of incest among his Welsh ancestors|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/11/30/john-prescott-learns-of-incest-among-his-welsh-ancestors-91466-25284089/|accessdate=2009-12-01|publisher=Media Wales Ltd|date=2009-11-30|work=WalesOnline website}}</ref> from [[UK general election, 1997|1997]] to [[Labour Party (UK) deputy leadership election, 2007|2007]], he was the [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], also serving as [[First Secretary of State]] from [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001]]. He was elected [[Deputy Leader of the British Labour Party|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] after coming second in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994|1994 leadership election]], and was duly appointed Deputy Prime Minister after Labour's victory in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 election]], with an expanded brief as [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]. |
|||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|5|31|df=yes}} |
|||
| birth_place = [[Prestatyn]], [[Flintshire (historic)|Flintshire]], [[Wales]] |
|||
| death_date = |
|||
| death_place = |
|||
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] |
|||
| spouse = {{marriage|Pauline Tilston|11 November 1961}} |
|||
| children = 2 |
|||
| education = [[Ruskin College]] |
|||
| alma_mater = [[University of Hull]] |
|||
| signature = Signature of John Prescott.svg |
|||
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=John Prescott briefs the European Parliament.ogg|title=John Prescott's voice|type=speech|description=Prescott briefs the [[European Parliament]] on the results of the [[Kyoto Conference on Climate Change]]<br />Recorded 17 February 1998}} |
|||
}} |
|||
'''John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott''' (born 31 May 1938) is a British politician who served as [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] from 1997 to 2007 and as [[First Secretary of State]] from 2001 to 2007. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], he was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Kingston upon Hull East]] for 40 years from [[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]] to [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]. He was often seen as the political link to the working class in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, middle-class professionals such as [[Tony Blair]] and [[Peter Mandelson]] and developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often fractious relationship between Blair and [[Gordon Brown]]. |
|||
Born in [[Prestatyn]], [[Wales]], in his youth Prescott failed the [[eleven-plus]] entrance exam for [[grammar school]] and worked as a ship's steward and trade union activist. He went on to graduate from [[Ruskin College]] and the [[University of Hull]]. In the [[1994 Labour Party leadership election]], he stood for both the [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|leadership]] and [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|deputy leadership]], winning election to the latter office. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister after Labour's victory in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 election]], with an expanded brief as [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]] until 2001 then subsequently [[First Secretary of State]] until 2007. In June 2007, he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, coinciding with Blair's resignation as Prime Minister. Following an election within the Labour Party, he was replaced as deputy leader by [[Harriet Harman]]. |
|||
A former ship's [[steward]] and [[trade union]] activist, by the 1980s he was presented as the political link to the [[working class]] in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, more [[middle class]] professionals. In his youth, Prescott managed to overcome the handicap of failing his [[grammar school]] entrance [[Eleven plus exam|Eleven Plus examination]], to graduate from [[Ruskin College]] in [[Oxford]]. Prescott also developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often tense relationship between the two other senior figures in government, then-[[Chancellor of the Exchequer|Chancellor]] [[Gordon Brown]] and then-[[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[Tony Blair]]. |
|||
After retiring as a Member of Parliament at the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Prescott entered the [[House of Lords]] as a [[life peer]] with the title Baron Prescott, ''of [[Kingston upon Hull]] in the County of [[East Yorkshire]]''. He stood as the Labour candidate in the [[2012 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections|2012 election]] to be the first [[Police and crime commissioner]] for [[Humberside Police]] but lost to [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] candidate [[Matthew Grove]]. Prescott resigned from the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] in 2013 to protest delays to the introduction of press regulation of which he had become a proponent. In February 2015, he returned to politics as an adviser to Labour leader [[Ed Miliband]]. |
|||
On 27 June 2007, he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, to coincide with the resignation of Tony Blair. Following an election within the Labour Party, he was replaced as Deputy Leader by [[Harriet Harman]]. However, the position of Deputy Prime Minister was not assigned to any minister. On 27 August 2007, he announced that he would stand down as a Member of Parliament at [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|the next election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6965184.stm|title=John Prescott to stand down as MP|publisher=BBC|date=2007-08-27|accessdate=2007-08-27}}</ref> |
|||
==Early life== |
==Early life== |
||
Prescott was born in [[Prestatyn]], [[Wales]], on 31 May 1938<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/street-fighter-working-class-hints-might-2304627 |title=John Prescott: A street-fighting man|last=O'Grady|first=Sean|date=19 May 2001|work=The Independent|access-date=7 September 2011|location=London}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="Pauline">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7316296/Smile-Though-Your-Heart-is-Breaking-by-Pauline-Prescott-review.html |title=Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking by Pauline Prescott: review |last=Lewis |first=Roger |date=27 February 2011 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104005404/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7316296/Smile-Though-Your-Heart-is-Breaking-by-Pauline-Prescott-review.html |archive-date=4 November 2011 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/public_life/john_prescott.shtml |title=BBC-North East Wales public life -John Prescott |date=February 2009 |publisher=BBC |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228165613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/northeast/guides/halloffame/public_life/john_prescott.shtml |archive-date=28 December 2009 |access-date=7 September 2011}}</ref> to Phyllis and John Herbert Prescott. John Prescott's father worked as a [[railway signalman]] and Labour councillor. When he was a preteen, his family won a competition to find the "most typical British family of 1951".<ref>{{cite news |date=15 November 2012 |title=The John Prescott story |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-20346012 |access-date=23 March 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref> In 2009, he said: "I've always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh...I was born in Wales, went to school in Wales and my mother was Welsh. I'm Welsh. It's my place of birth, my country."<ref name="IcWales">{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/11/30/john-prescott-learns-of-incest-among-his-welsh-ancestors-91466-25284089/ |title=John Prescott learns of incest among his Welsh ancestors |date=30 November 2009 |website=WalesOnline |publisher=Media Wales Ltd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091203172223/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/11/30/john-prescott-learns-of-incest-among-his-welsh-ancestors-91466-25284089/ |archive-date=3 December 2009 |access-date=1 December 2009}}</ref> He left Wales in 1942 at the age of four and was brought up initially in [[Brinsworth]] in the [[West Riding of Yorkshire]], England. He attended Brinsworth Manor School, where in 1949 he sat but failed the [[Eleven-plus|11-Plus]] examination to attend [[Rotherham Grammar School]]. Shortly afterwards, his family moved to [[Upton-by-Chester]], and he attended Grange Secondary Modern School in nearby [[Ellesmere Port]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Chester Chronicle |date=20 September 2016 |title=Former Chester school boy John Prescott slams grammar school plans |url=http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/former-chester-school-boy-john-11894271 |access-date=23 April 2022 |website=CheshireLive }}</ref> |
|||
The son of a [[signalman (rail)|railway signalman]] and [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[councillor]], and grandson of a [[coal mining|miner]], Prescott was born in [[Prestatyn]], [[Flintshire (historic)|Flintshire]] (now in [[Denbighshire]]), [[Wales]]. He left Wales in 1942 at the age of four and was brought up initially in [[Brinsworth]] in [[South Yorkshire]], [[England]]. He attended Brinsworth Primary School (known then as Brinsworth Manor School), where he sat but failed the [[Eleven plus|Eleven Plus examination]] in 1949. Shortly after, his family moved to [[Upton, Cheshire|Upton]], [[Cheshire]] and he went to school in nearby [[Ellesmere Port]], where he attended Grange Secondary Modern School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article3997506.ece|title=My love letter was sent back, spelling corrected|publisher=Times Online|date=2008-05-25|accessdate=2008-05-25 | location=London}}</ref> He became a steward and waiter in the [[British Merchant Navy|Merchant Navy]], thus avoiding [[National Service]], working for [[Cunard Line|Cunard]], and was a popular [[left-wing]] [[trade union|union]] activist. Prescott's time in the [[Merchant Marine]] included a cruise from England to [[New Zealand]] in 1957.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/pip/0b1vp/ | title=Prescott at Your Service | publisher=BBC Radio 4 | accessdate=2007-02-04}}</ref><ref name="prescott_eden">{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6296053.stm|title=When Prescott served Eden|last=Grimley|first=Naomi |date=25 January 2007|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|accessdate=2009-01-25}}</ref> Among the passengers was Sir [[Anthony Eden]], recuperating after his resignation over the [[Suez Crisis]]. Prescott reportedly described Eden as a "real gentleman". Apart from serving Eden, who stayed in his cabin much of the time, Prescott also won several [[boxing]] contests, at which Eden presented the prizes.<ref name="prescott_eden"/> He married Pauline 'Tilly' Tilston at Upton Church in Chester on 11 November 1961.<ref>{{cite web | http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/pauline-prescott-wounded-party-476073.html | title=Pauline Prescott: Wounded party | publisher=The Independent | accessdate=2009-11-17}}</ref> He then went to the independent [[Ruskin College]] in [[Oxford]], which specialises in courses for union officials, where he gained a [[diploma]] in [[economics]] and [[politics]] in 1965. In 1968, he obtained a [[BSc]] in [[economics]] and [[economic history]] at the [[University of Hull]]. |
|||
Prescott became a steward and waiter in the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]], thus avoiding [[National service]], working for [[Cunard]], and was a popular left-wing union activist. Prescott's time in the Merchant Navy included a cruise from England to New Zealand in 1957.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/pip/0b1vp/ |title=Prescott at Your Service |publisher=BBC Radio 4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202165036/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/pip/0b1vp/ |archive-date=2 February 2007 |access-date=4 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="prescott_eden">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6296053.stm |title=When Prescott served Eden |last=Grimley |first=Naomi |date=25 January 2007 |work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=25 January 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070331141820/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6296053.stm |archive-date=31 March 2007}}</ref> Among the passengers was former British Prime Minister Sir [[Anthony Eden]], recuperating after his resignation over the [[Suez Crisis]]. Prescott reportedly described Eden as a "real gentleman". Apart from serving Eden, who stayed in his cabin much of the time, Prescott also won several boxing contests, at which Eden presented the prizes.<ref name="prescott_eden" /> He married Pauline "Tilly" Tilston at Upton Church in Chester on 11 November 1961.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/pauline-prescott-wounded-party-476073.html |title=Pauline Prescott: Wounded party |last=Brown |first=Colin |date=29 April 2006 |work=The Independent |access-date=17 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302094320/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/pauline-prescott-wounded-party-476073.html |archive-date=2 March 2011 |location=London}}</ref> He then went to [[Ruskin College]], which specialises in courses for union officials, where he gained a diploma in economics and politics in 1965. In 1968, he obtained a [[BSc]] degree in economics and [[economic history]] from the [[University of Hull]].<ref>Criddle, Byron (2005) ''The Almanac of British Politics'', Routledge, pp. 494-495</ref> |
|||
==Member of Parliament== |
==Member of Parliament== |
||
Prescott returned to the [[National Union of Seamen]] as a full-time official before being elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] as Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Kingston upon Hull East]] in 1970, succeeding Commander [[Harry Pursey]], the retiring Labour MP. The defeated Conservative challenger was [[Norman Lamont]]. Previously, he had attempted to become MP for [[Southport (UK Parliament constituency)|Southport]] in 1966, but came in second place, approximately 9,500 votes behind the Conservative candidate.<ref name="archive.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/john-prescott/25447 |title=Lord Prescott |date=4 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904075909/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/john-prescott/25447 |archive-date=4 September 2010}}</ref> From July 1975 to 1979, he concurrently served as a [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) and Leader of the Labour Group, when its members were nominated by the national Parliaments.<ref name="archive.org" /> In 1988 Prescott and [[Eric Heffer]] [[1988 Labour Party deputy leadership election|challenged]] [[Roy Hattersley]] for the deputy leadership of the party, but Roy Hattersley was reelected as deputy leader. Prescott stood again in the [[1992 Labour Party deputy leadership election|1992 deputy leadership election]], following Hattersley's retirement, but lost to [[Margaret Beckett]].<ref name="Hattersley">{{cite news |title=There is No Alternative |last=Hattersley |first=Roy |date=25 September 1997 |work=The Guardian |id={{ProQuest|245169723}}}}</ref> |
|||
Prescott held various posts in Labour's [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|Shadow Cabinet]], but his career was secured by an impassioned closing speech in the debate at the [[Labour Party Conference]] in 1993 on the introduction of "one member, one vote" for the selection and reselection of Labour Parliamentary candidates that helped swing the vote in favour of this reform. In 1994 |
Prescott held various posts in Labour's [[Official Opposition Shadow Cabinet (United Kingdom)|Shadow Cabinet]], but his career was secured by an impassioned closing speech in the debate at the [[Labour Party Conference]] in 1993 on the introduction of "one member, one vote" for the selection and reselection of Labour Parliamentary candidates that helped swing the vote in favour of this reform. In 1994 Prescott was a candidate in the [[1994 Labour Party leadership election|party leadership election]] that followed the death of [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]], standing for the positions of both [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|leader]] and [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|deputy leader]].<ref name="archive.org" /> [[Tony Blair]] won the leadership contest, with Prescott being elected deputy leader.<ref name="archive.org" /> |
||
==Deputy Prime Minister== |
==Deputy Prime Minister== |
||
[[File:John Prescott on his last day as Deputy Prime Minister, June 2007 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Prescott during his last day as Deputy Prime Minister, 27 June 2007]] |
|||
[[Image:JPrescott.jpg|thumb|left|175px|John Prescott in May 2007]] |
|||
With the election of a Labour Government in [[UK general election, 1997|1997]], Prescott was made [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] and given a very large [[Portfolio (government)|portfolio]] as the head of the newly created [[Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions]]. In July 2001, an [[Office of the Deputy Prime Minister]] (ODPM) was created to administer the many areas under his responsibility.<ref>{{cite web | title = The office of Deputy Prime Minister | url = http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04023.pdf | format = PDF | publisher = House of Commons | accessdate = 2006-07-18}}</ref> This new office was originally part of the [[Cabinet Office]], but became a department in its own right in May 2002, when it absorbed some of the responsibilities from the now-abolished Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. |
|||
In the United Kingdom, the title of Deputy Prime Minister is used only occasionally, and confers no constitutional powers (in which it is similar to the pre-20th century usage of [[Prime Minister]]). The Deputy Prime Minister stands in when the Prime Minister is unavailable, most visibly at [[Prime |
With the formation of a Labour government in [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997]], Prescott was made [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Deputy Prime Minister]] and given a very large [[Ministry (government department)|portfolio]] as the head of the newly created [[Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions]]. In the United Kingdom, the title of Deputy Prime Minister is used only occasionally, and confers no constitutional powers (in which it is similar to the pre-20th century usage of [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]). The Deputy Prime Minister stands in when the Prime Minister is unavailable, most visibly at [[Prime minister's questions]], and Prescott had attended various Heads of Government meetings on behalf of then Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kprm.gov.pl/english/2130_7446.htm |title=Bilateral Meeting of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland with the Deputy Prime Minister of Great Britain |publisher=The Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Poland) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060307210057/http://www.kprm.gov.pl/english/2130_7446.htm |archive-date=7 March 2006 |access-date=9 June 2006}}</ref> |
||
Since the position of Deputy Prime Minister draws no salary, Prescott's remuneration was based on his position as [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]] until [[ |
Since the position of Deputy Prime Minister draws no salary, Prescott's remuneration was based on his position as [[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]] until [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001]]. This "super department" was then broken up, with the [[Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] and the [[Department for Transport]] established as separate entities. Prescott, still Deputy Prime Minister, was also given the largely honorific title of [[First Secretary of State]]. In July 2001 an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created to administer the areas remaining under his responsibility.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04023.pdf |title=The office of Deputy Prime Minister |publisher=House of Commons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619223108/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04023.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=19 June 2006 |access-date=18 July 2006}}</ref> This was originally part of the [[Cabinet Office]], but became a department in its own right in May 2002, when it absorbed some of the responsibilities of the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The ODPM had responsibility for local and regional government, housing, communities and the fire service. |
||
===Environment=== |
===Environment, Transport and the Regions=== |
||
====Environment==== |
|||
The UK played a major role in the successful negotiations on the [[Kyoto Protocol]] on [[climate change]] and Prescott led the UK delegation at the discussions.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2002/jun/01/greenpolitics.europeanunion | publisher = Guardian Unlimited | date = 1 June 2002 | title = Hopes for Kyoto rise after Japan and EU ratify treaty | author = Paul Brown | accessdate = 2008-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk1 | publisher = Guardian Unlimited | date = 1 June 2006 | title = Prescott's highs and lows | author = Stephen Habberley | accessdate = 2008-10-01}}</ref> |
|||
The UK played a major role in the successful negotiations on the [[Kyoto Protocol]] on climate change and Prescott led the UK delegation at the discussions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Paul|date=1 June 2002|title=Hopes for Kyoto rise after Japan and EU ratify treaty|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2002/jun/01/greenpolitics.europeanunion|url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826035409/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2002/jun/01/greenpolitics.europeanunion|archive-date=26 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Habberley|first=Stephen|date=1 June 2006|title=Prescott's highs and lows|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk1|url-status=live|access-date=1 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228212132/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk1|archive-date=28 February 2014}}</ref> In May 2006, in recognition of his work in delivering the Kyoto Treaty, [[Tony Blair]] asked him to work with the [[Foreign Secretary]] and the [[Secretary of State for the Environment|Environment Secretary]] on developing the Government's post-Kyoto agenda.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Leslie Prescott|url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1376.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060110191522/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1376.asp|archive-date=10 January 2006|access-date=13 January 2006|publisher=10 Downing Street}}</ref> |
|||
As minister on 24 August 1999, Prescott made regulations banning the use of [[Chrysotile]] Asbestos which resulted in a complete [[Asbestos and the law|ban on the usage]] of any [[Asbestos]] containing products in the United Kingdom from 24 November 1999.<ref>{{cite news |title=White Asbestos ban is set to beat European deadline |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/white-asbestos-ban-is-set-to-beat-european-deadline-26-08-1999/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |work=Construction News |date=26 August 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=The British Asbestos Newsletter |website=www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org |date=Autumn 1999 |issue=36 |url=https://www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org/ban36.htm |access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> |
|||
In May 2006, in recognition of his work in delivering the Kyoto Treaty, [[Tony Blair]] asked Prescott to work with the [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] and the [[Secretary of State for the Environment|Environment Secretary]] on developing the Government's post-Kyoto agenda.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1376.asp | publisher=10 Downing Street | accessdate= 2006-01-13 | title=John Leslie Prescott }}</ref> |
|||
===Transport=== |
|||
====Integrated transport policy==== |
====Integrated transport policy==== |
||
On coming to office, Prescott pursued an integrated public transport policy. On 6 June 1997, he said: "I will have failed if in five years time there are not...far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it."<ref>{{cite web |url= |
On coming to office, Prescott pursued an integrated public transport policy. On 6 June 1997, he said: "I will have failed if in five years time there are not...far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo981020/debtext/81020-03.htm |title=ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS, RELATING TO TRANSPORT The Secretary of State was asked |date=20 October 1998 |website=Hansard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922155741/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo981020/debtext/81020-03.htm |archive-date=22 September 2017 |access-date=1 September 2017}}</ref> However, by June 2002, car traffic was up by 7%. This prompted [[Friends of the Earth]]'s Tony Bosworth to say "By its own test, Government transport policy has failed".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/20020606000126.html |title=Friends of the Earth – Transport policy fails the Prescott test |publisher=Foe.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109101449/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/20020606000126.html |archive-date=9 January 2009 |access-date=29 April 2010}}</ref> |
||
Prescott had success in focusing attention on the role of car usage in the bigger environmental picture and the need for effective public transport alternatives if car volume is to be reduced. The subsequent debate on [[road pricing]] evolved from his policy. A contrast was highlighted between Prescott's transport brief and an incident, in 1999, when an official chauffeur-driven car was used to transport Prescott and his wife {{ |
Prescott had success in focusing attention on the role of car usage in the bigger environmental picture and the need for effective public transport alternatives if car volume is to be reduced. The subsequent debate on [[road pricing]] evolved from his policy. A contrast was highlighted between Prescott's transport brief and an incident, in 1999, when an official chauffeur-driven car was used to transport Prescott and his wife {{convert|250|yd|m}} from their hotel to the venue of the Labour Party Conference, where Prescott gave a speech on how to encourage the use of public transport. Prescott explained, "Because of the security reasons for one thing and second, my wife doesn't like to have her hair blown about. Have you got another silly question?"<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/461555.stm |title=Prescott walks it like he talks it |date=30 September 1999 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120701134046/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/461555.stm |archive-date=1 July 2012}}</ref> Prescott has been fined for speeding on four occasions.<ref>{{cite news|title=80mph Prescott fined |newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]] |date=5 January 1997 |page= 2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Guy |last=Patrick |title=Cops nick speeding Prescott|newspaper=[[News of the World]] |date=5 January 1997 |page= 9}}</ref> |
||
====Rail regulation==== |
====Rail regulation==== |
||
Prescott had a stormy relationship with the |
Prescott had a stormy relationship with the privatisation of the railway industry. He had vigorously opposed the privatisation of the industry while the Labour Party was in opposition, and disliked the party's policy, established in 1996 just before the [[Initial public offering|flotation]] of [[Railtrack]] on the [[London Stock Exchange]], of committing to [[renationalise]] the industry only when resources allowed, which he saw as meaning that it would never be done.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} Reluctantly, he supported the alternative policy, produced by then shadow transport secretary [[Clare Short]], that the industry should be subjected to closer regulation by the to-be-created [[Strategic Rail Authority]] (in the case of the passenger train operators) and the [[Rail Regulator]] (in the case of the monopoly and dominant elements in the industry, principally Railtrack). The policy was spelled out in some detail in the Labour Party's statement in the June 1996 prospectus for the sale of Railtrack shares, and was widely regarded as having depressed the price of the shares.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} |
||
In 1998, Prescott was criticised by |
In 1998, Prescott was criticised by Transport Minister [[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]] for his statement – at the Labour Party conference that year – that the privatised railway was a "national disgrace", despite receiving a standing ovation from the Labour Party audience.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/183627.stm |title=Trains a 'national disgrace' |date=1 October 1998 |work=BBC News|access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> The companies felt that they had had some considerable successes in cutting costs and generating new revenues in the short time since their transfer to private sector hands, and that the criticisms were premature and unfair.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Glaister |first=Stephen |title=OCCASIONAL PAPER 23: BRITISH RAIL PRIVATISATION ~ COMPETITION DESTROYED BY POLITICS |url=http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/cri/pubpdf/Occasional_Papers/23_Glaister.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Centre for the Study of Regulated Industries |publisher=University of Bath |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219064837/http://www.bath.ac.uk/management/cri/pubpdf/Occasional_Papers/23_Glaister.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2016 |access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> |
||
In that speech, Prescott also announced that he would be taking a far tougher line with the companies, and to that end he would be having a "spring clean of the |
In that speech, Prescott also announced that he would be taking a far tougher line with the companies, and to that end he would be having a "spring clean" of the industry.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/prescott-gives-signal-for-rail-improvement-08-10-1998/ |title=Prescott gives signal for rail improvement |last=Anderson |first=Graham |date=8 October 1998 |work=Construction News |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113124643/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/archive/prescott-gives-signal-for-rail-improvement-08-10-1998/ |archive-date=13 January 2020}}</ref> This meant that the incumbent [[Director of Passenger Rail Franchising]] – John O'Brien – and the Rail Regulator [[John Swift QC]] – both appointed by the previous [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] government, would have to make way for new Labour appointees. |
||
In July 1998, Prescott, published a transport White Paper stating that the rail industry needed an element of stability and certainty if it was to plan its activities effectively.<ref>Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, ''[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090224114933/http://www.dft.gov.uk/162259/187604/A_new_deal_for_transport_be1.pdf A new deal for transport: better for everyone]'', Cm 3950, July 1998, para 4.22</ref> |
|||
In February 1999, the regulation of the passenger rail operators fell to Sir [[Alastair Morton]],{{efn|name="regulators"|Sir Alastair Morton left office, early, in October 2001. Tom Winsor continued until the end of his five-year term in July 2004.}} who Prescott announced would be appointed as chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, which would take over from the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising whose office would be wound up. In July 1999, the new Rail Regulator appointed by Prescott was [[Tom Winsor]].{{efn|name="regulators"}} They shared Prescott's view that the railway industry needed a considerable shake-up in its institutional, operational, engineering and economic matrix to attract and retain private investment and enable the companies within it to become strong, competent and successful.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1999/jul/19/railways-bill |title=Railways Bill , House of Commons Debate cc789-893 |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604150341/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1999/jul/19/railways-bill |archive-date=4 June 2016 |date=19 July 1999 |access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> |
|||
===Local and regional government=== |
===Local and regional government=== |
||
Responsible for local government, Prescott introduced a new system guiding members' conduct after 2001. The new system included a nationally agreed Code of Conduct laid down by [[Statutory |
Responsible for local government, Prescott introduced a new system guiding members' conduct after 2001. The new system included a nationally agreed Code of Conduct laid down by [[Statutory instrument]] which all local authorities were required to adopt; the Code of Conduct gives guidance on when councillors have an interest in a matter under discussion and when that interest is prejudicial so that the councillor may not speak or vote on the matter. Although on many areas councillors had previously been expected to withdraw where they had declared an interest, the new system made the system more formal and introduced specific sanctions for breaches; it was criticised for preventing councillors from representing the views of their local communities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1511467/Christopher-Booker%27s-notebook.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911111747/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1511467/Christopher-Booker%27s-notebook.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2012 |title=Christopher Booker's notebook |last=Booker |first=Christopher |date=26 February 2006 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=1 October 2008 |location=London}}</ref> |
||
Prescott supported |
Prescott supported regional government in England. Early in his term, he introduced [[Regional assembly (England)|regional assemblies]] (consisting of delegates from local authorities and other regional stakeholders) to oversee the work of new Regional Development Agencies in the regions of England. Following Labour's second election victory, he pressed for the introduction of elected regional assemblies, which would have seen about 25 to 35 members elected under a similar electoral system to that used for the [[London Assembly]]. However, because of opposition, the government was forced to hold regional referendums on the change. The first three were intended to be in the North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and the Humber. The [[2004 North East England devolution referendum|North-East referendum]] in November 2004 was first (where support was felt to be strongest) but resulted in an overwhelming vote of 78% against. As a consequence, the plan for elected regional assemblies was shelved. |
||
===Housing=== |
===Housing=== |
||
A rising number of households (especially in the south-east) |
A rising number of households (especially in the south-east) were putting added pressure on housing during Prescott's tenure as the minister responsible. An increase in the housebuilding was proposed, primarily on ''[[brownfield]]'' sites, but also on some undeveloped ''[[greenfield land|greenfield]]'' areas and as a result he was accused of undermining the [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|Green Belt]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/50935.stm |title=Labour homes policy comes under fire |date=27 January 1998 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908154837/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/50935.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/142260.stm |title=MPs criticise Prescott's 'vague' building policy |date=30 July 1998 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040721150143/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/142260.stm |archive-date=21 July 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/473394.stm |title=Prescott under pressure over housing |date=13 October 1999 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908153808/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/473394.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1305209.stm |title=Tories pledge to protect greenbelt |date=30 April 2001 |work=BBC News |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908153625/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1305209.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> During a radio interview in January 1998, Prescott was asked about housing development on the green belt; intending to convey that the government would enlarge green belt protection, Prescott replied: "It's a Labour achievement, and we mean to build on it".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Passing comment – Quote |date=31 January 1998 |work=The Times |page=8}}</ref> He had not intended to make a joke and was distressed when it prompted laughter.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Deputy Prescott, a son of a gun but one of a dangerous breed |last=Oppenheim |first=Phillip |date=11 July 1999 |work=The Sunday Times |page=16}}</ref> |
||
In the |
In the north of England, Prescott approved the demolition of some 200,000 homes that were judged to be in "failing areas" as part of his ''[[Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme|Pathfinder]]'' regeneration scheme. It has been argued that renovating properties, rather than demolishing them, would have made better financial and community sense.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1490090/Has-John-Prescott-got-his-sums-right.html |title=Has John Prescott got his sums right? |last=Clover |first=Charles |date=16 May 2005 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=13 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324010036/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1490090/Has-John-Prescott-got-his-sums-right.html |archive-date=24 March 2014 |location=London}}</ref> |
||
Prescott led the campaign to abolish council housing, which ran out of steam when tenants in Birmingham voted to stay with the council in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/dch_novotes.cfm |title=Who has voted NO |last=Defend Council Housing |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203095427/http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/dch_novotes.cfm |archive-date=3 February 2016 |access-date=29 January 2016}}</ref> A previous attempt to privatise all the council housing in the London Borough of Camden failed in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/dch_CamdenALMO2004.cfm |title=Camden Tenants Vote 7[7]% No to ALMO |last=Defend Council Housing |date=2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205070914/http://www.defendcouncilhousing.org.uk/dch/dch_CamdenALMO2004.cfm |archive-date=5 February 2016 |access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref> |
|||
===Opposition to education reforms=== |
===Opposition to education reforms=== |
||
On 17 December 2005, Prescott made public his disapproval of Tony Blair's plans to give [[state schools]] the right to govern their finances and admission policies and to increase the number of [[ |
On 17 December 2005, Prescott made public his disapproval of [[Tony Blair]]'s plans to give [[state schools]] the right to govern their finances and admission policies and to increase the number of [[city academies]]. It was the first policy stance that Prescott had made against Blair since his election as leader in 1994. Prescott said that the move would create a two-tier educational system that would discriminate against the working class.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-hits-out-over-great-danger-from-blairs-school-reforms-519970.html |title=Prescott hits out over 'great danger' from Blair's school reforms |last=Elliot |first=Francis |date=17 December 2005 |work=The Independent |access-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111223828/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-hits-out-over-great-danger-from-blairs-school-reforms-519970.html |archive-date=11 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref> He added that Labour were "always better fighting class".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1505758/Class-war-Prescott-attacks-Blair%27s-education-reforms-and-Cameron%27s-%27Eton-Mafia%27.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918153518/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1505758/Class-war-Prescott-attacks-Blair%27s-education-reforms-and-Cameron%27s-%27Eton-Mafia%27.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2012 |title=Class war: Prescott attacks Blair's education reforms and Cameron's 'Eton Mafia' |last1=Hennessy |first1=Patrick |date=19 December 2005 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=1 October 2008 |last2=Kite |first2=Melissa |location=London |author2-link=Melissa Kite}}</ref> |
||
===Links with the grass roots=== |
===Links with the grass roots=== |
||
Prescott, sometimes described as "an old-school unionist", kept in touch with the views of the traditional Labour voters throughout his career. He became an important figure in [[Tony Blair]]'s "[[New Labour]]" movement, as the representative of 'old Labour' interests in the [[Shadow |
Prescott, sometimes described as "an old-school unionist", kept in touch with the views of the traditional Labour voters throughout his career. He became an important figure in [[Tony Blair]]'s "[[New Labour]]" movement, as the representative of 'old Labour' interests in the [[Shadow cabinet]] and subsequently around the Cabinet table as Deputy Prime Minister. |
||
However, now a member of the |
However, now a member of the establishment, relationships with the [[grass roots]] were not always smooth. Whilst attending the [[Brit Awards]] in 1998, [[Chumbawamba]] vocalist [[Danbert Nobacon]] poured a jug of iced water over Prescott, saying, "This is for the [[Liverpool dockers' dispute (1995–1998)|Liverpool Dockers]]".<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.spunk.org/library/music/chumba/sp001737/ |title=Soaked Prescott Rages at Pop Band |date=10 February 1998 |work=Evening Standard |access-date=7 December 2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031230081702/http://www.spunk.org/library/music/chumba/sp001737/ |archive-date=30 December 2003}}</ref> (Dock workers in [[Liverpool]] had been involved in a two-year industrial dispute: a strike that had turned into a [[lock-out]], until a few weeks earlier.) A reporter from the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' threw water over Nobacon the following day.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://archive.boltoneveningnews.co.uk/1998/6/3/799945.html |title=Four claret gold! Burnley's soccer-mad pop anarchists who fly first-class |date=3 June 1998 |work=Lancashire Evening Telegraph |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010605/http://archive.boltoneveningnews.co.uk/1998/6/3/799945.html |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> |
||
===Abolition of department=== |
===Abolition of department=== |
||
In a [[2006 United Kingdom Cabinet reshuffle|Cabinet reshuffle]] on 5 May 2006, Prescott's departmental responsibilities were transferred to [[Ruth Kelly]], as [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]], following revelations about his private life and a poor performance by Labour in that year's local elections. He remained as Deputy Prime Minister, with a seat in the Cabinet, and was given a role as a special envoy to the Far East.<ref name="keepspoils">{{cite news | |
In a [[2006 United Kingdom Cabinet reshuffle|Cabinet reshuffle]] on 5 May 2006, Prescott's departmental responsibilities were transferred to [[Ruth Kelly]], as [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]], following revelations about his private life and a poor performance by Labour in that year's local elections. He remained as Deputy Prime Minister, with a seat in the Cabinet, and was given a role as a special envoy to the Far East as well as additional responsibilities chairing cabinet committees.<ref name="keepspoils">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2168926.html |title=Prescott the predator keeps his spoils |last=Oakeshott |first=Isabel |date=7 May 2006 |work=The Sunday Times |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4989578.stm |title=Blair outlines new Prescott role |date=17 May 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060627084834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4989578.stm |archive-date=27 June 2006}}</ref> Despite having lost his departmental responsibilities it was announced that he would retain his full salary (£134,000pa) and pension entitlements, along with both his [[grace-and-favour]] homes, an announcement which received considerable criticism.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/may/07/uk.labour |title=Prescott pension pot to be £1.5m | Politics | The Observer |last=Barnett |first=Antony |date=6 May 2006 |work=Guardian |access-date=7 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922090416/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/may/07/uk.labour |archive-date=22 September 2014 |location=London}}</ref> |
||
The press speculated in July 2006 that, as a consequence of the continuing problems centred on Prescott, Blair was preparing to |
The press speculated in July 2006 that, as a consequence of the continuing problems centred on Prescott, Blair was preparing to replace him as Deputy Prime Minister with [[David Miliband]], whilst possibly retaining Prescott as [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]],<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261991,00.html |title=No. 10 lines up Miliband for Prescott job |last1=Cracknell |first1=David |date=9 July 2006 |work=The Sunday Times |access-date=7 May 2010 |last2=UngoedThomas |first2=Jon |location=London}}</ref> but nothing came of this. |
||
===Announcement of retirement=== |
===Announcement of retirement=== |
||
In a speech to the 2006 [[Labour Party Conference]] in Manchester, Prescott apologised for the bad press he had caused the party during the previous year. He said: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So Conference, I just want to say sorry", and confirmed that he would stand down as deputy leader when Blair resigned the premiership.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5386428.stm |title=Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry |date=28 September 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 September 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060928085202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5386428.stm |archive-date=28 September 2006}}</ref> Prescott subsequently announced in the House of Commons that he was "... in a rather happy [[demob]] stage", in January 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6317459.stm |title=I'm 'demob happy', says Prescott |date=31 January 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=1 February 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070202031647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6317459.stm |archive-date=2 February 2007}}</ref> |
|||
Within 30 minutes of |
Within 30 minutes of Blair announcing the date of his resignation on 10 May 2007, Prescott announced his resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. During the subsequent special Labour Party Conference, [[Gordon Brown]] was elected Leader and [[Harriet Harman]] succeeded Prescott as Deputy Leader.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} |
||
==Life after government== |
==Life after government== |
||
[[File:John Prescott 2009 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Prescott in 2009]] |
|||
Following his resignation, it was announced that he would take over from [[Tony Lloyd]] as the lead UK Representative in the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]]. The post is unpaid, but has an expenses allowance and allows him to sit on the [[Assembly of WEU|Assembly of Western European Union]]. In a jocular response to the appointment, [[Shadow Cabinet (UK)|Shadow]] [[Minister of State for Europe|Europe Minister]] [[Mark Francois]] wished the translators good luck.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6271112.stm| title=Prescott in Council of Europe job | publisher=BBC News | date=4 July 2007}}</ref> |
|||
Following his resignation, it was announced that Prescott would take over from [[Tony Lloyd]] as the lead UK Representative in the [[Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe]]. In a jocular response to the appointment, Shadow Europe Minister [[Mark Francois]] wished the translators good luck.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6271112.stm |title=Prescott in Council of Europe job |date=4 July 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=22 September 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823190659/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6271112.stm |archive-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> The post is unpaid but has an expenses allowance and allows him to sit on the [[Assembly of the Western European Union]]. He has used his role on the council to make his campaign against slave labour a key issue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Colin|date=23 August 2007|title=Prescott to stand down at election and focus on Council of Europe role|work=The Independent|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-to-stand-down-at-election-and-focus-on-council-of-europe-role-462652.html|url-status=dead|access-date=1 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211171749/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-to-stand-down-at-election-and-focus-on-council-of-europe-role-462652.html|archive-date=11 December 2008}}</ref> |
|||
On 27 August 2007, Prescott stated that he would stand down as an MP at [[2010 United Kingdom general election|the next general election]].<ref>{{cite news|date=27 August 2007|title=John Prescott to stand down as MP|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6965184.stm|url-status=live|access-date=27 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015074244/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6965184.stm|archive-date=15 October 2007}}</ref> His autobiography, ''Prezza, My Story: Pulling no Punches'' was published on 29 May 2008 and ghostwritten by [[Hunter Davies]].<ref>Headline: {{ISBN|978-0-7553-1775-2}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/feature/47944-have-they-got-books-for-you.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720163042/http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/feature/47944-have-they-got-books-for-you.html |archivedate=20 July 2008|publisher=The Bookseller |title=Have they got books for you}}</ref> During the 2010 general election campaign, Prescott toured the UK in a customised white transit van dubbed his "Battlebus" canvassing support for the Labour Party.<ref>{{Cite news|date=7 April 2010|title=John Prescott launches his Election Battlebus|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/the_daily_politics/8607402.stm|access-date=1 February 2012}}</ref> Prescott was publicly very supportive of [[Gordon Brown]], and has called him a "global giant".<ref>{{cite news|date=21 September 2009|title=Prescott: Brown is 'global giant'|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8267420.stm|url-status=live|access-date=3 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924214339/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8267420.stm|archive-date=24 September 2009}}</ref> |
|||
Prescott is a director of [[Super League]] rugby league club [[Hull Kingston Rovers]], who are based in his constituency of East Hull.<ref name="Prescott handed role at Hull KR">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull_kr/7049899.stm|title=Prescott handed role at Hull KR|publisher=BBC|date=2007-10-18|accessdate=2007-10-18}}</ref> |
|||
It was announced on 28 May 2010 that Prescott was to be awarded a [[life peer]]age,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8711821.stm |title=Dissolution honours: John Prescott made a peer |date=28 May 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908153334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8711821.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> The peerage was [[The London Gazette|gazetted]] on 15 June in the [[2010 Dissolution Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59459|supp=y|page=11151|date=15 June 2010}}</ref> Prescott has stated in interviews that he is not religious.<ref name="pinknews.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-4567.html |title=John Prescott, suffering from pneumonia is moved to high dependency unit |date=7 June 2007 |work=Pink News |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725033554/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-4567.html |archive-date=25 July 2008}}</ref> He chose to make a non-religious [[solemn affirmation]] rather than swearing an oath during his introduction in the [[House of Lords]]. He was introduced into the House on 8 July as '''Baron Prescott''', ''of Kingston upon Hull in the County of [[East Yorkshire]]'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10550850.stm |title=Lord Prescott takes his place in the House of Lords |date=8 July 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=8 July 2010}}</ref> and the [[Letters patent]] were gazetted on 12 July, dated 7 July.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=59485|page=13181|date=12 July 2010}}</ref> |
|||
His autobiography, ''Prezza, My Story: Pulling no Punches''<ref>Headline: ISBN 9780755317752.</ref> ghostwritten by [[Hunter Davies]],<ref>[http://www.thebookseller.com/in-depth/feature/47944-have-they-got-books-for-you.html The Bookseller: "Have they got books for you"].</ref> was published on 29 May 2008. |
|||
Prescott is a director of [[Super League]] rugby league club [[Hull Kingston Rovers]], who are based in his former constituency of Kingston upon Hull East.<ref name="Prescott handed role at Hull KR">{{cite news|date=18 October 2007|title=Prescott handed role at Hull KR|work=BBC Sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull_kr/7049899.stm|url-status=live|access-date=18 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020034808/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/hull_kr/7049899.stm|archive-date=20 October 2007}}</ref> Prescott ran for [[Labour Party Treasurer]] in September 2010 but was defeated by [[Diana Holland]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11414834 |title=Lord Prescott fails in Treasurer bid |work=[[BBC News]] |date=26 September 2010}}</ref> who took 68.96% of the total vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2010/sep/26/labour-labourconference|title=Labour conference live – Sunday 26 September|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=26 September 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 April 2017|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.uk/treasurer-results |title=Treasurer Results | the Labour Party |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616035510/http://www.labour.org.uk/treasurer-results |archive-date=16 June 2012 }}</ref> |
|||
In June 2008, he made a cameo appearance, playing a policeman, in the [[BBC Radio 4]] adaptation of [[Robert Tressell]]'s ''[[The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists]]''. |
|||
On 30 July 2010, Prescott appeared before the panel at the [[Chilcot Inquiry]] concerning the [[Iraq War]]. Prescott stated that he was doubtful about the legality, intelligence and information about Iraq's [[Weapons of Mass Destruction]]. The inquiry was launched by [[Gordon Brown]] in the summer of 2009 shortly after operations in the war ended.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jul/30/lord-prescott-chilcot-inquiry |title=Lord Prescott admits intelligence doubts prior to Iraq war |last=Mulholland |first=Helene |date=30 July 2010 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919022534/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jul/30/lord-prescott-chilcot-inquiry |archive-date=19 September 2016 |location=London}}</ref> In 2016, after publication of the resultant Chilcot Report, which was critical of the war but remained neutral on its legality, Prescott declared that the invasion by UK and US forces had been "illegal" and that members of Tony Blair's Cabinet "were given too little paper documentation to make decisions".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36756878 |title=John Prescott: Ex-deputy PM says Iraq War was illegal |date=10 July 2016 |work=BBC News |access-date=10 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710003400/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36756878 |archive-date=10 July 2016}}</ref> |
|||
In October and November 2008 he was the subject of a two-part documentary, ''"Prescott: the Class System and Me"'', on [[BBC Two]], looking at the class system in Britain, and asking whether it still exists.<ref>{{cite news | word = [[The Independent]] | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-television--prescott-the-class-system-and-me-bbc2-spooks-bbc1-975284.html | title = Last Night's Television - Prescott: The Class System and Me, BBC2 | date = 28 October 2008 | accessdate = 2008-11-01}}</ref> |
|||
In February 2012, Prescott announced he would stand for Labour's nomination in the [[2012 England and Wales police and crime commissioner elections|election]] to be the first [[Police and crime commissioner]] for [[Humberside Police]].<ref name="GuardianPCCannounce">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/10/john-prescott-stand-police-commissioner |title=John Prescott to stand for police commissioner post |last=Travis |first=Alan |date=10 February 2012 |work=The Guardian |access-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925040859/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/10/john-prescott-stand-police-commissioner |archive-date=25 September 2015 |location=London}}</ref> In June he was selected as the Labour candidate for the election in November 2012.<ref name="BBCPolice">{{cite news|date=18 June 2012|title=Lord Prescott aims for Humberside police job|work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18490964|url-status=live|access-date=19 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619055244/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18490964|archive-date=19 June 2012}}</ref> In the November election Prescott won the most first preference votes but ended up losing to Conservative [[Matthew Grove]] in the second count.<ref name="BBCresultsPCC">{{cite news|date=16 November 2012|title=Police election results|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20354044|url-status=live|access-date=16 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116170955/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20354044|archive-date=16 November 2012}}</ref> |
|||
Prescott is publicly very supportive of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and has called him a "global giant"<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8267420.stm</ref> |
|||
[[File:Dennis Skinner and John Prescott, 2016 Labour Party Conference.jpg|thumb|[[Dennis Skinner]] and Prescott at the 2016 Labour Party Conference]] |
|||
In January 2010, Prescott appeared in the series finale of BBC1 sitcom Gavin and Stacey, appearing at Nessa's wedding, for comedic effect as Nessa had talked about them being lovers in previous episodes of the sitcom. Writing on his blog, he said: "I've got to say I thoroughly enjoyed my cameo in Gavin and Stacey - I'd heard about this running joke about me and this woman called Nessa in the series"<ref>http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ixLPqTK3TMPGfxrrHboK7-W6DS0w</ref> |
|||
In March 2013, Prescott suggested that the Queen, [[Elizabeth II]], should abdicate due to her health.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/9951037/Lord-Prescott-told-to-stop-speculating-after-suggesting-Queen-should-abdicate.html |title=Lord Prescott told to 'stop speculating' after suggesting Queen should abdicate |last=Hope |first=Christopher |date=24 March 2013 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131027025452/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/queen-elizabeth-II/9951037/Lord-Prescott-told-to-stop-speculating-after-suggesting-Queen-should-abdicate.html |archive-date=27 October 2013 |location=London}}</ref> Prescott was criticised for his position by several MPs.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk" /> |
|||
==Health concerns== |
|||
Prescott was diagnosed with [[diabetes]] in 1990<ref>http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article3780994.ece</ref>, although this was not publicly disclosed until 2002.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1997138.stm</ref> On 2 June 2007 he was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on a train from his [[constituency]] in [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] to [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]].<ref>{{cite web |
|||
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6715665.stm |
|||
|title = Prescott admitted into hospital |
|||
|work = BBC News Online |
|||
|publisher = BBC |
|||
|date = 5 June 2007 |
|||
|accessdate = 2008-10-07 |
|||
}}</ref> He was later diagnosed with [[pneumonia]] and was treated at [[University College Hospital]], London. He was moved to a high-dependency ward on 5 June 2007 so he could be monitored more closely because of his age and the fact he suffers from [[diabetes]].<ref>{{cite web |
|||
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6724899.stm |
|||
|title = Prescott suffering from pneumonia |
|||
|work = BBC News Online |
|||
|publisher = BBC |
|||
|date = 5 June 2007 |
|||
|accessdate = 2008-10-07 |
|||
}}</ref> On 6 June 2007 it was reported in the media that his condition was stable and that he was sitting up and "joking" with hospital staff.<ref>{{cite web |
|||
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6731241.stm |
|||
|title = Prescott's sixth day in hospital |
|||
|work = BBC News Online |
|||
|publisher = BBC |
|||
|date = 7 June 2007 |
|||
|accessdate = 2008-10-07 |
|||
}}</ref> He was subsequently released from hospital on 10 June 2007 to continue his recovery at home.<ref>{{cite news | last = Woodward | first = Will | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2007/jun/11/uk.labour | title = Prescott released from hospital | date = 11 June 2007 |work = [[The Guardian]] | accessdate = 2008-10-07}}</ref> |
|||
On 6 July 2013, Prescott revealed in a newspaper column that he had resigned from the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] in protest against the delays to the introduction of press regulation.<ref name="Sunday Mirror">{{Cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-prescott-ive-quit-privy-2033408 |title=John Prescott: Why I've quit Privy Council after 19 years |date=6 July 2013 |work=Sunday Mirror |access-date=6 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130708074323/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/john-prescott-ive-quit-privy-2033408 |archive-date=8 July 2013}}</ref> The resignation only became effective on 6 November the same year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-60681-1936753 |title=Privy Council Office |website=www.thegazette.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104081256/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-60681-1936753 |archive-date=4 November 2014 |access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> The [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition Government]] had insisted that the Privy Council must consider a cross-party [[Royal Charter#United Kingdom|Royal Charter]] to underpin a new system of regulation, but that this meant that a final decision would not be taken before 2015.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23213741 |title=John Prescott resigns from Privy Council |date=6 July 2013 |work=BBC News |access-date=6 July 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707014022/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23213741 |archive-date=7 July 2013}}</ref> |
|||
In April 2008, Prescott announced he has the eating disorder [[bulimia nervosa]], which he believed was brought on by stress since the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news | title=Prescott tells of bulimia battle | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7357008.stm | work=BBC News | date=20 April 2008 | accessdate=2008-04-20}}</ref> |
|||
On 21 February 2015, it was announced Prescott would return to politics as an adviser to Labour leader [[Ed Miliband]].<ref>{{cite news|date=22 February 2015|title=John Prescott set to return to front-line politics|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31570861|url-status=live|access-date=23 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222110244/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-31570861|archive-date=22 February 2015}}</ref> |
|||
==Criticism and controversies== |
|||
Prescott has been involved in a number of controversies and incidents that have caused public concern and widespread media interest. During the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 election]] [[election campaign|campaign]], Prescott was campaigning in [[Rhyl]] when farmer Craig Evans [[egging|threw an egg]] at him, which struck him in the neck. Prescott, a former amateur boxer, responded immediately with a punch, which struck the man directly in the jaw.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bofunk.com/video/648/egg_head.html | title=Egg Head | publisher=bofunk.com | accessdate=2006-04-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335033.stm | title=Prescott sees red | publisher=[[BBC News]] | date=17 May 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335107.stm | title=Prescott 'regrets' blow | publisher=[[BBC News]] | date=17 May 2001}}</ref> The incident, overshadowing the launch of the Labour Party [[manifesto]] on that day, was captured by numerous television crews. [[Tony Blair]] responded succinctly, stating, "John is John".<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6634855.stm BBC News: In Pictures: John Prescott]</ref> However, a [[National Opinion Polls]] (NOP) survey found that the incident appeared to do no public harm to Prescott, and may even have benefited his standing amongst male voters.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ukpol.co.uk/messages/messages/6/1388.html?1123516499 | title=NOP poll and Sunday Times analysis | publisher=UKPOL | accessdate=2006-04-30}}</ref> |
|||
In October 2015, Prescott was presented with the Shechtman International Leadership Award at the Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit 2015 in Antalya, Turkey, for his contributions to sustainable development in politics.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lord John Prescott is awarded the Shechtman International Leadership Award in Turkey|url=http://www.flogen.org/awards.php?spage=1&sp=1&sp2=Lord_John_Prescott_SIPS2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220033237/http://www.flogen.org/awards.php?spage=1&sp=1&sp2=Lord_John_Prescott_SIPS2015|archive-date=20 February 2018|access-date=19 February 2018|website=www.flogen.org|publisher=FLOGEN Star OUTREACH}}</ref> |
|||
In 2003, Prescott gave up a [[grace and favour]] home that he had rented from the [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers|RMT Union]] in [[Clapham]], despite leaving the union in June 2002. Prescott paid £220 a month for the property — a fifth of its market value.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article999709.ece | title=Heroes of the Empire fight to stay rent-free | date=21 January 2004 | publisher=[[The Times]]| accessdate= 28 November 2008 | location=London}}</ref> Though he had not declared the flat in the register of members' interests, he was subsequently exonerated by MPs who overruled [[Elizabeth Filkin]], the [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2000/may/18/uk.parliament1 | title=Watchdog overruled. MPs back Prescott over flat rented from union| date=18 May 2000 | publisher=[[The Guardian]]| accessdate= 28 November 2008}}</ref> On 12 January 2006, Prescott apologised after it was revealed that the [[council tax]] for the government flat he occupied at [[Admiralty House (London)|Admiralty House]] was paid for using public money, rather than his private income. He repaid the amount, which came to £3,830.52 over nearly nine years.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4607110.stm | title=Prescott apologises over tax bill | date=12 January 2006 | publisher=[[BBC News]]| accessdate= 28 November 2008}}</ref> |
|||
===Television appearances=== |
|||
There have been additional controversies over sexual infidelities and harassment allegations.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml;jsessionid=5MIWK2BD1FOB5QFIQMGCFFWAVCBQUIV0?xml=/opinion/2006/05/02/do0202.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2006/05/02/ixopinion.html | title=Prescott, a bully from a more brutal age | publisher=Daily Telegraph | author=Ben Fenton | date=2 May 2006}}</ref> On 26 April 2006, Prescott admitted to having had an affair with his diary secretary, [[Tracey Temple]], between 2002 and 2004.<ref name="admit">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945170.stm | title=Prescott admits affair with aide | date=28 April 2006 | publisher=BBC}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Mail|Mail on Sunday]]'' broke the news with extracts from Temple's [[memoir]]s. These included a range of salacious allegations that were subject to extensive media comment.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=384690&in_page_id=1770 | title=We made love in John's office | publisher=Mail on Sunday | author=Simon Walters | date=30 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=385370&in_page_id=1770 | title=Prescott ogled secretary from day he began job | publisher=Mail on Sunday | author=Dominic Turnbull | date=7 May 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006200584,00.html| title= Two Shags has two inches | date= April 2006 | publisher= The Sun}}</ref> This two-year affair is said to have commenced after an office party and, in part, took place during meetings at Mr Prescott's grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall. [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Andrew Robathan]] tabled questions in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] over John Prescott's reported entertainment of Ms Temple at [[Dorneywood]], his official residence, which raised questions over the possible misuse of public finances.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4950238.stm | title=Standards question over Prescott | publisher=BBC | date=27 April 2006}}</ref> [[Trevor Kavanagh]], former political editor of ''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'', told [[BBC Radio 5 Live]]: "Learning that John Prescott's had an affair is a bit like learning that [[Simon Hughes]] is gay. I mean, everyone knows he had an affair. He's had a string of affairs throughout his life and this has come as no surprise."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=384388&in_page_id=1770 | title=Ministers humiliated on black day for Blair | publisher=Daily Mail | author=Benedict Brogan, Michael Seamark, Gordon Rayner | date=27 April 2006}}</ref> On 7 May 2006, [[The Sunday Times]] quoted Linda McDougall, wife of [[Austin Mitchell]], as saying that in 1978 Prescott had put his hand up her skirt as he came through the door to a meeting - Mr Prescott had not met McDougall before. On 30 July 2006, it was revealed that Tricia McDaid had filed suit for sexual harassment.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=700455 | title=Ulster journo sues Prescott for sexual harassment | publisher=Belfast Telegraph | work=Belfast Telegraph | date=30 July 2006}}</ref> |
|||
In June 2008, Prescott made a cameo appearance, playing a policeman, in the [[BBC Radio 4]] adaptation of [[Robert Tressell]]'s ''[[The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists]]''. In 2009, he made a brief cameo appearance as himself in the final episode of the [[BBC Three]] comedy series ''[[Gavin & Stacey]]'' (this referred to a running joke in the show regarding a relationship the character Nessa had had with him many years previously).<ref>{{cite news|date=9 December 2009|title=John Prescott in Gavin and Stacey|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8403169.stm|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref> Beginning on 7 January 2011, Prescott appeared in a TV advert for price comparison website [[moneysupermarket.com]], along with comedian [[Omid Djalili]], which gently mocks events in his political career.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8245333/John-Prescott-paid-five-figures-for-boxing-advert.html |title=John Prescott 'paid five figures' for boxing advert |last=Bloxham |first=Andy |date=7 January 2011 |work=The Telegraph |access-date=7 January 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108175317/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/8245333/John-Prescott-paid-five-figures-for-boxing-advert.html |archive-date=8 January 2011 |location=London}}</ref> On 27 February 2011, he appeared on the [[BBC]]'s [[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|''Top Gear'']] as the "Star in the Reasonably Priced Car", where he set a lap time of 1.56.7, the second slowest in a [[Kia Ceed]].{{efn|though, his lap was made in heavy wet condition. The slowest lap time, made by [[Damian Lewis]], was in a heavy snow condition which significantly made the lap time much slower (2:09.1, about 12 seconds slower than Prescott's).}} He also engaged in a discussion with host [[Jeremy Clarkson]] regarding his time in Government. He appeared as himself in the 2014 [[Comic Relief]] film ''David Walliams' Exes''.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} |
|||
In October and November 2008, Prescott was the subject of a two-part documentary, ''Prescott: the Class System and Me'', on BBC Two, looking at the class system in Britain, and asking whether it still exists.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hanks|first=Robert|date=28 October 2008|title=Last Night's Television – Prescott: The Class System and Me, BBC2|work=[[The Independent]]|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-television--prescott-the-class-system-and-me-bbc2-spooks-bbc1-975284.html|url-status=dead|access-date=1 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202145426/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-television--prescott-the-class-system-and-me-bbc2-spooks-bbc1-975284.html|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref> In 2009, he featured in the [[BBC Wales]] TV series [[Coming Home (British TV series)|''Coming Home'']] about his Welsh family history, with roots in Prestatyn and [[Chirk]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}} In October 2009, he was featured in another BBC Two documentary, ''Prescott: The North/South Divide'', in which he and his wife Pauline explored the current state of the [[North–South divide in England|North-South Divide]] from their perspective as Northern Englanders long used to living in the south of the country.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Wollaston|first=Sam|date=15 October 2009|title=Prescott: The North/South Divide|work=The Guardian|location=London|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2009/oct/15/prescott-the-north-south-divide|url-status=live|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314041758/http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2009/oct/15/prescott-the-north-south-divide|archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref> |
|||
He was criticised for maintaining the benefits of Deputy Prime Minister despite losing his department in 2006. He was also attacked for visiting the American billionaire [[Phil Anschutz]], who was bidding for the government licence to build a [[super casino]] in the UK, and questioned over his involvement in the business of his son [[Johnathan Prescott]]. |
|||
In 2019, Prescott hosted the television series ''Made in Britain'', which explored the manufacturing of some of Britain's favourite foods.<ref>{{cite web|title=Made In Britain {{!}} Food|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/made-in-britain|access-date=6 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709185541/https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/program/made-in-britain|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
He gained a reputation in the British press for confused speech, mangled syntax and poor grammar.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+prezza+pulls+his+punches/2265407 | title=FactCheck: Prezza pulls his punches? | date=30 May 2008 | publisher=[[Channel 4 News]]| accessdate= 28 November 2008}}</ref> The ''[[The Guardian|Guardian]]'' columnist [[Simon Hoggart]] once commented: |
|||
"Every time Prescott opens his mouth, it's like someone has flipped open his head and stuck in an egg whisk."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/hi/tft/politics/002023.php| title= John Prescott: An Upstanding Member of UK PLC | date= 28 April 2006 | publisher= The Friday Project}}</ref> An oft-quoted but unverified story in [[Jeremy Paxman]]'s ''The Political Animal'' is that, before being accepted as transcribers to the Parliamentary record the ''[[Hansard]]'', applicants must listen to one of Prescott's speeches and write down what they think he was trying to say. |
|||
==Controversies== |
|||
The media have attached various [[sobriquet]]s to John Prescott during his political career. Originally, Prescott's nickname was simply "Prezza",<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261946,00.html| title= Prezza's big gamble on Dome billionaire | date= 9 July 2006 | publisher= ''The Times'' | location=London}}</ref> but as various misfortunes befell Prescott the soubriquets became more colourful leading to "Two Jags"<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1459928.stm| title= 'Two Jags' Prescott in parking row | date= 27 July 2001 | publisher= The BBC}}</ref> (Prescott owns one [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]], and had the use of another as his official ministerial car). Later versions of this term are "Two Jabs"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_4098000/4098929.stm| title= Prescott punches protester | date= 16 May 2001 | publisher= BBC News}}</ref> (following his retaliation against a protester farmer in 2001); "Two Shags"<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006200584,00.html| title= Two Shags has two inches | month= April | year= 2006 | publisher= ''The Sun''}}</ref> (in reference to his affair with his diary secretary, Miss [[Tracey Temple]]); and "Two Shacks"<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk | title = 'Two Shacks' Prescott | date = 1 June 2006 | publisher = Guardian Unlimited | accessdate = 2008-10-01}}</ref> (referring to his former [[Dorneywood|country house]]). ''The Independent'' later referred to Prescott as "No Jobs"<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/another-sacked-minister-holds-on-to-his-residence-479446.html | title = Another sacked minister holds on to his residence | date = 24 May 2006 | publisher = Independent Online | accessdate = 2008-10-01}}</ref> when he lost his department in a cabinet reshuffle following exposure of his affair, despite keeping the benefits and residences associated with his title, which became a [[sinecure]]. |
|||
===Council tax=== |
|||
In 2003, Prescott gave up a home that he had rented from the [[National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers|RMT Union]] in [[Clapham]]; he had left the union in June 2002. Prescott paid £220 a month for the property – a fifth of its market value.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article999709.ece |title=Heroes of the Empire fight to stay rent-free |last=Malvern |first=Jack |date=21 January 2004 |work=The Times |access-date=28 November 2008 |location=London}}</ref> Though he had not declared the flat in the register of members' interests, he was subsequently exonerated by MPs who overruled [[Elizabeth Filkin]], the [[Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/may/18/uk.parliament1 |title=Watchdog overruled. MPs back Prescott over flat rented from union |last=Hencke |first=David |date=18 May 2000 |work=The Guardian |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306135530/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/may/18/uk.parliament1 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |location=London}}</ref> On 12 January 2006, Prescott apologised after it was revealed that the [[council tax]] for the government flat he occupied at [[Admiralty House (London)|Admiralty House]] was paid from public money, rather than his private income. He repaid the amount, which came to £3,830.52 over nearly nine years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4607110.stm |title=Prescott apologises over tax bill |date=12 January 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015230619/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4607110.stm |archive-date=15 October 2006}}</ref> |
|||
===Sexual infidelities=== |
|||
On 8 May 2009, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' began publishing [[MPs' expenses row|leaked details of MPs' expenses]]. ''The Telegraph'' reported that Prescott have claimed £312 for fitting mock Tudor beams to his constituency home, and for two new toilet seats in as many years. Prescott has not responded to any of the claims.<ref>{{cite web|last=Beckford |first=Martin |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293199/MPs-expenses-Two-lavatory-seats-in-two-years-for-John-Prescott.html |title=Daily Telegraph: John Prescott |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2009-05-08 |accessdate=2009-05-13}}</ref> |
|||
Prescott has come under fire for additional controversies over sexual infidelities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3624711/Prescott-a-bully-from-a-more-brutal-age.html |title=Prescott, a bully from a more brutal age |last=Fenton |first=Ben |date=2 May 2006 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140326134209/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3624711/Prescott-a-bully-from-a-more-brutal-age.html |archive-date=26 March 2014 |location=London}}</ref> On 26 April 2006, he admitted to having had an affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, between 2002 and 2004.<ref name="admit">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945170.stm |title=Prescott admits affair with aide |date=28 April 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908154222/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945170.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> This two-year affair is said to have commenced after an office party and, in part, took place during meetings at Prescott's grace-and-favour flat in [[Whitehall]]. Conservative MP [[Andrew Robathan]] tabled questions in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] over Prescott's reported entertainment of Temple at [[Dorneywood]], his official residence, which raised questions over the possible misuse of public finances.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4950238.stm |title=Standards question over Prescott |date=27 April 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229052721/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4950238.stm |archive-date=29 December 2006}}</ref> |
|||
He was criticised for maintaining the benefits of Deputy Prime Minister despite losing his department in 2006. He was criticised for visiting the American billionaire [[Phil Anschutz]] who was bidding for the government licence to build a super casino in the UK,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5145400.stm |title=Prescott declares US ranch stay |work=BBC News |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908161540/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5145400.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1523102/Prescott-met-US-billionaire-seven-times.html |title=Prescott met US billionaire seven times |last=Helm |first=Toby |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405042858/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1523102/Prescott-met-US-billionaire-seven-times.html |archive-date=5 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jul/06/uk.gambling |title=Lobbying for a casino at the dome: how the deputy PM's officials got involved |last1=Hencke |first1=David |last2=Evans |first2=Rob |date=6 July 2006 |website=The Guardian |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021438/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jul/06/uk.gambling |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=11 December 2016}}</ref> and questioned over his involvement in the business of his son Johnathan Prescott.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/64534.stm |title=Auditors probe Prescott son's house deals |work=BBC News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030218062605/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/64534.stm |archive-date=18 February 2003 |access-date=18 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1526789/Prescott-is-urged-to-tell-all-about-sons-land-deals.html |title=Prescott is urged to tell all about son's land deals |first1=Bonnie |last1=Malkin |first2=Jasper |last2=Copping |date=19 August 2006 |access-date=3 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024223/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1526789/Prescott-is-urged-to-tell-all-about-sons-land-deals.html |archive-date=5 April 2018}}</ref> He was photographed playing [[croquet]] at [[Dorneywood]], his then "[[grace and favour]]" home, when Tony Blair was out of the country on a visit to Washington.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641223370?f=rss |title=Prescott Gives Up Dorneywood Home |date=1 June 2006 |publisher=News.sky.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711231907/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641223370?f=rss |archive-date=11 July 2012 |access-date=13 June 2013}}</ref> Prescott was mocked in the media – in part because the game was so divorced from his working-class roots – and he gave up the use of the house.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5035506.stm |title=Critics welcome Dorneywood move |date=1 June 2006 |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229074147/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5035506.stm |archive-date=29 February 2008 |work=BBC News}}</ref> He later said that it had been his staff's idea to play croquet and that contrary to press reports, he had not been Acting Prime Minister when he had played the game.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.topstories3 |title=Prescott: I was wrong to hold on to Dorneywood |last=White |first=Michael |date=1 June 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=11 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918170028/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.topstories3 |archive-date=18 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.labour |title='I'm not a saint. I'm not a forever sinner ... and I'm not unique' |last=White |first=Michael |date=1 June 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=11 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918160911/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.labour |archive-date=18 September 2017}}</ref> |
|||
== Ancestry == |
|||
===Sexual assault allegation=== |
|||
In 2009 Prescott participated in a [[BBC Wales]] programme Coming Home in which he researched his [[family tree]]. During the filming of the programme it was discovered that his great great great grandfather, Thomas Parrish, was the most likely father of his daughter's first four children. Athaliah Parrish, Prescott's great great grandmother, later married William Jones and had a further six children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8382869.stm|title=Prescott sheds tears for ancestor|date=29 November 2009|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[British Broadcasting Corporation]]|accessdate=29 November 2009}}</ref> During the programme Prescott reaffirmed his feelings for his country, saying "I’ve always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh. People are a bit surprised when I say I’m Welsh. I was born in Wales, went to school in Wales and my mother was Welsh. I’m Welsh. It’s my place of birth, my country."<ref name="IcWales"/> |
|||
On 7 May 2006, ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' quoted Linda McDougall, wife of [[Austin Mitchell]], as saying that in 1978 Prescott had pushed her "quite forcefully" against a wall<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prescott-the-predator-keeps-his-spoils-vpp77nntzdb |title=Prescott the predator keeps his spoils |date=7 May 2006 |work=The Sunday Times |location=London}}</ref> and put his hand up her skirt as she opened the door for him to a meeting in her own house just after her husband became an MP; Prescott had not previously met her. |
|||
===Expenses claims=== |
|||
On 8 May 2009, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' began publishing [[United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal|leaked details of MPs' expenses]]. ''The Telegraph'' reported that Prescott had claimed £312 for fitting mock Tudor beams to his constituency home, and for two new toilet seats in as many years. Prescott responded by saying, "Every expense was within the rules of the House of Commons on claiming expenses at the time".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm#prescott_john |title=Key details: MP expenses claims |date=19 June 2009 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511161834/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8039273.stm#prescott_john |archive-date=11 May 2009}}</ref> |
|||
===2001 Rhyl incident=== |
|||
{{Main|Prescott punch}} |
|||
On 16 May 2001, when arriving for a rally in [[Rhyl]], Prescott was assaulted by a pro-hunting supporter Craig Evans who is an enforcement officer for Natural Resources Wales. Craig Evans threw an egg at him. Prescott retaliated by punching the protester. A momentary ensuing scuffle was broken up by police and bystanders. This earned Prescott the nickname "Two Jabs".<ref>{{cite web|date=16 May 2019|title=It's 18 years since John Prescott punched a man who egged him|url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/16/18-years-since-john-prescott-punched-man-egged-9567735/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=Metro}}</ref> |
|||
==Public profile== |
|||
Prescott gained a reputation in the British press for confused speech, mangled syntax and poor grammar.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+prezza+pulls+his+punches/2265407 |title=FactCheck: Prezza pulls his punches? |date=30 May 2008 |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907003721/http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+prezza+pulls+his+punches/2265407 |archive-date=7 September 2008 |publisher=[[Channel 4 News]]}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]'' columnist [[Simon Hoggart]] once commented: "Every time Prescott opens his mouth, it's like someone has flipped open his head and stuck in an egg whisk."<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/hi/tft/politics/002023.php |title=John Prescott: An Upstanding Member of UK PLC |date=28 April 2006 |access-date=23 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526102315/http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/hi/tft/politics/002023.php |archive-date=26 May 2006 |work=The Friday Project}}</ref> An oft-quoted but unverified story in [[Jeremy Paxman]]'s ''The Political Animal'' is that, before being accepted as transcribers to the Parliamentary record ''[[Hansard]]'', applicants must listen to one of Prescott's speeches and write down what they think he was trying to say. However, [[Liz Davies]] wrote that on the Labour [[National Executive Committee of the Labour Party|National Executive Committee]], Prescott "spoke in clear, concise sentences and his point was always understandable. Contrary to his television and parliamentary image, he appears to choose his words with care."<ref name="guardian-20010330">{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/30/labour.bookextracts |title=The odd couple |last=Davies |first=Liz |date=30 March 2001 |work=The Guardian |access-date=16 June 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714221331/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/30/labour.bookextracts |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> |
|||
The media have attached various [[sobriquet]]s to Prescott during his political career. Originally, Prescott's nickname was "Prezza",<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261946,00.html |title=Prezza's big gamble on Dome billionaire |last=Smyth |first=Chris |date=9 July 2006 |work=The Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914001517/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261946,00.html |archive-date=14 September 2012 |location=London}}</ref> but as various misfortunes befell him the sobriquets became more colourful, leading to "Two Jags", which set the template for later nicknames.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1459928.stm |title='Two Jags' Prescott in parking row |date=27 July 2001 |work=BBC News |access-date=23 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908161406/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1459928.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> Prescott owns one [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]], and had the use of another as his official ministerial car. A later version of this term was "Two Jabs",<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_4098000/4098929.stm |title=Prescott punches protester |date=16 May 2001 |work=On This Day |access-date=23 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307114855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_4098000/4098929.stm |archive-date=7 March 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> following his retaliation against a protester farmer in 2001, and "Two Shacks",<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk |title='Two Shacks' Prescott |last=Weaver |first=Matthew |date=1 June 2006 |work=The Guardian |access-date=1 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303005637/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk |archive-date=3 March 2014 |location=London}}</ref> referring to his former [[Dorneywood|country house]]. When he lost his department in a cabinet reshuffle following exposure of his affair, newspapers dubbed him "Two Shags"<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_AHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA43 |title=A History of Political Scandals: Sex, Sleaze and Spin |last=Hughes |first=A. K. |date=6 November 2013 |isbn=978-1-84468-089-4 |publisher=Pen & Sword History |location=Barnsley, Yorkshire |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104232732/https://books.google.com/books?id=P_AHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA43 |archive-date=4 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> and "No Jobs".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/another-sacked-minister-holds-on-to-his-residence-479446.html |title=Another sacked minister holds on to his residence |last=Adams |first=Guy |date=24 May 2006 |work=The Independent |access-date=19 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211172048/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/another-sacked-minister-holds-on-to-his-residence-479446.html |archive-date=11 December 2008 |location=London}}</ref> Banned from driving after being convicted of speeding in 1991, Prescott was banned again after a similar conviction in June 2015.<ref>{{Cite news |title='Two bans' Prescott caught speeding |date=9 June 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref> This led to him being nicknamed "Two bans". |
|||
Prescott has been involved in a number of incidents that have caused widespread media interest. During the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 election campaign]], Prescott was campaigning in [[Rhyl]], [[Denbighshire]], when one Craig Evans [[Prescott punch|threw an egg at him]]. Prescott, a former [[amateur boxer]], responded immediately with a straight left to the jaw.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335033.stm |title=Prescott sees red |date=17 May 2001 |work=BBC News |access-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113034555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335033.stm |archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335107.stm |title=Prescott 'regrets' blow |date=17 May 2001 |work=BBC News |access-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223200937/http://news.bbc.co.uk/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335107.stm |archive-date=23 December 2008}}</ref> The incident, overshadowing the launch of the Labour Party manifesto on that day, was captured by television cameras. Tony Blair responded by stating: "John is John".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6634855.stm |title=In Pictures: John Prescott |date=10 May 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425062610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6634855.stm |archive-date=25 April 2010}}</ref> A National Opinion Polls (NOP) survey found that the incident did no public harm to Prescott, and may even have benefited his standing amongst male voters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jan/09/newmedia.polls |title=NOP poll and Sunday Times analysis|newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 January 2003 |publisher=UKPOL|access-date=30 April 2006}} </ref><ref name="picorir">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/sep/21/uk.labour |title=Prescott in clear over rumble in Rhyl |last=Perkins |first=Anne |date=21 September 2001 |work=The Guardian. |access-date=11 December 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319200521/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/sep/21/uk.labour |archive-date=19 March 2017}}</ref> Speaking on ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', Prescott stated: "I was against fox-hunting, and he thought I was one of the guys he hated because I wanted to keep fox-hunting". He elaborated: |
|||
{{Quote|1=When I walked past this guy, and he hit me with the egg, right, I don't know it was an egg, I just feel this very warm thing running down my neck and I think, well I just think somebody's perhaps knifed me or assaulted me, you know, that all happens in a split second, and I see this fellow built like a bloody barn door, and I turned, and I reacted, and when Tony [Blair] asked me, er, what happened I said I was carrying out his orders; he told us to connect with the electorate, so I did.|2=John Prescott<ref name="topgear">{{Cite episode |title=Series 16, Episode 6 |series=[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]] |date=27 February 2011}}</ref>|source={{primary-inline|date=May 2024}}}} |
|||
==Personal life== |
|||
===Family=== |
|||
Prescott and Pauline Tilston married in 1961. They have two sons. The elder, Johnathan Prescott, is a businessman. Their younger son, David Prescott, is active in Labour Party politics and works in the office of former party leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]];<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/02/labour-mps-overhaul-complaints-procedure-david-prescott-allegations |title=Labour urged to review complaints policy amid David Prescott claims |last=Elgot |first=Jessica |date=2 June 2019 |work=The Observer |access-date=3 June 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602231158/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/02/labour-mps-overhaul-complaints-procedure-david-prescott-allegations |archive-date=2 June 2019}}</ref> he failed to be selected for his father's parliamentary seat in Hull<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7299977.stm |title=Son loses bid for Prescott's seat |date=17 March 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321214641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7299977.stm |archive-date=21 March 2008}}</ref> but was the Labour candidate for [[Gainsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Gainsborough]] in 2015. Pauline had a son by an [[United States Air Force|American airman]] in the 1950s, whom she gave up for adoption.<ref name="Pauline" /> |
|||
===Health concerns=== |
|||
Prescott was diagnosed with [[diabetes]] in 1990,<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article3780994.ece |title=How could a big man like John Prescott have a girls' illness |date=20 April 2008 |work=The Times |access-date=3 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516175332/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/book_extracts/article3780994.ece |archive-date=16 May 2008 |location=London}}</ref> although this was not publicly disclosed until 2002.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1997138.stm |title=Prescott has diabetes |date=19 May 2002 |work=BBC News |access-date=3 April 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031012123431/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1997138.stm |archive-date=12 October 2003}}</ref> On 2 June 2007 he was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on a train from his constituency in [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] to [[London King's Cross]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6715665.stm |title=Prescott admitted into hospital |date=5 June 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908161334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6715665.stm |archive-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> He was later diagnosed with [[pneumonia]] and was treated at [[University College Hospital]], London. He was moved to a high-dependency ward on 5 June 2007 so he could be monitored more closely because of his age and the fact he suffers from diabetes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6724899.stm |title=Prescott suffering from pneumonia |date=5 June 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201062112/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6724899.stm |archive-date=1 December 2008}}</ref> On 6 June 2007 it was reported in the media that his condition was stable and that he was sitting up and "joking" with hospital staff.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6731241.stm |title=Prescott's sixth day in hospital |date=7 June 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915000800/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6731241.stm |archive-date=15 September 2007}}</ref> He was subsequently released from hospital on 10 June 2007 to continue his recovery at home.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/11/uk.labour |title=Prescott released from hospital |last=Woodward |first=Will |date=11 June 2007 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005031217/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/11/uk.labour |archive-date=5 October 2014 |location=London}}</ref> |
|||
In April 2008, Prescott recounted having suffered from the eating disorder [[bulimia nervosa]], which he believed was brought on by stress, from the 1980s until 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7357008.stm |title=Prescott tells of bulimia battle |date=20 April 2008 |work=BBC News |access-date=20 April 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421202426/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7357008.stm |archive-date=21 April 2008}}</ref> |
|||
Prescott was admitted to [[Hull Royal Infirmary]] on 21 June 2019 after suffering a [[stroke]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48745868 |title=Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke |date=24 June 2019 |access-date=24 June 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624104105/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48745868 |archive-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> He subsequently returned to his duties.<ref>{{cite web|last=Young|first=Angus|date=20 January 2020|title=Legend John Prescott back in action after suffering stroke|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/lord-john-prescott-labour-stroke-3757570|access-date=6 July 2021|website=HullLive}}</ref> |
|||
==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
||
* |
*{{Cite book |title=Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott |last=Hoggart |first=Simon |publisher=Pocket Books |year=2003 |isbn=0-7434-8397-9 |author-link=Simon Hoggart}} |
||
* |
*{{Cite book |title=Fighting Talk: Biography of John Prescott |last=Brown |first=Colin |publisher=Simon & Schuster |year=1997 |isbn=0-684-81798-5 |author-link=Colin Brown (journalist and author)}} |
||
* |
*{{Cite book |title=Prezza: My Story: Pulling No Punches |last=Prescott |first=John |publisher=Headline |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7553-1775-2}} |
||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
*[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] |
*[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]] |
||
*[[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] |
|||
==Notes== |
|||
{{Notelist}} |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
{{ |
{{Reflist|30em}} |
||
==External links== |
==External links== |
||
{{ |
{{Wikiquote}} |
||
{{Commons category|John Prescott}} |
|||
* [http://john-prescott.labourhome.org/ john-prescott.labourhome.org] – Prescott's political blog |
|||
*Parliamentary profile [https://members.parliament.uk/member/374/contact] |
|||
*{{Wayback|http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page1376.asp}} – profile at 10 Downing Street website |
|||
*{{Twitter}}{{UK MP links | hansard = mr-john-prescott | guardian = 4254/john-prescott | publicwhip = John_Prescott | theywork = john_prescott/kingston_upon_hull_east | record = | bbc = 25447.stm | journalisted = john-prescott }} |
|||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945902.stm BBC Profile] |
|||
*{{C-SPAN|36053}} |
|||
*[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-4254,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: John Prescott MP] |
|||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4945902.stm BBC Profile], 5 May 2006 |
|||
*[http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/john_prescott/kingston_upon_hull_east TheyWorkForYou.com - John Prescott MP] |
|||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2968074.stm |
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2968074.stm John Prescott's gift of the gaffe], ''[[BBC News]]'', 6 June 2003 |
||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6715665.stm Prescott admitted to hospital] |
|||
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6726331.stm Prescott 'sitting up and joking'] |
|||
*[http://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/United_Kingdom/Society_and_Culture/Politics/Parties/Labour/MPs/Prescott,_John/ Open Directory Project — John Prescott] directory category |
|||
*{{hansard-contribs | mr-john-prescott | John Prescott }} |
|||
{{s-start}} |
{{s-start}} |
||
{{s-par|uk}} |
{{s-par|uk}} |
||
{{s-bef|before=[[Harry Pursey]]}} |
{{s-bef|before=[[Harry Pursey]]}} |
||
{{s-ttl|title= |
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Kingston upon Hull East]]|years=[[1970 United Kingdom general election|1970]]–[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]}} |
||
{{s-aft|after=[[Karl Turner (British politician)|Karl Turner]]}} |
|||
{{s-inc}} |
|||
|- |
|- |
||
{{s- |
{{s-off}} |
||
{{s-bef|before=[[ |
{{s-bef|before=[[Albert Booth]]}} |
||
{{s-ttl|title=[[ |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Transport]]|years=1983–1984}} |
||
{{s-aft|after=[[Gwyneth Dunwoody]]}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|Shadow Secretary of State for Employment]]|years=1984–1987}} |
|||
{{s-aft|after=[[Michael Meacher]]}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[Stan Orme]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Energy]]|years=1987–1988}} |
|||
{{s-aft|after=[[Tony Blair]]}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[Robert Hughes, Baron Hughes of Woodside|Robert Hughes]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Transport]]|years=1988–1993}} |
|||
{{s-aft|after=[[Frank Dobson]]}} |
|||
|- |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[Frank Dobson]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|Shadow Secretary of State for Employment]]|years=1993–1994}} |
|||
{{s-aft|after=[[Harriet Harman]]}} |
{{s-aft|after=[[Harriet Harman]]}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{s-off}} |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[John Gummer]]|as=[[Secretary of State for the Environment]]}} |
{{s-bef|before=[[John Gummer]]|as=[[Secretary of State for the Environment]]}} |
||
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=[[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]|years=1997–2001}} |
{{s-ttl|rows=2|title=[[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]]|years=1997–2001}} |
||
{{s-aft|after=[[Margaret Beckett]]|as=[[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]}} |
{{s-aft|after=[[Margaret Beckett]]|as=[[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{s-bef|before=[[ |
{{s-bef|before=[[George Young, Baron Young of Cookham|George Young]]|as=[[Secretary of State for Transport]]}} |
||
{{s-aft|after=[[Stephen Byers]]|as=Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions}} |
{{s-aft|after=[[Stephen Byers]]|as=Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{s-bef |
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Heseltine]]}} |
||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]|years=1997–2007}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]]|years=1997–2007}} |
||
{{s-vac}} |
{{s-vac|next=[[Nick Clegg]]}} |
||
|- |
|- |
||
{{s-vac|last=[[Michael Heseltine]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[First Secretary of State]]|years=2001–2007}} |
{{s-ttl|title=[[First Secretary of State]]|years=2001–2007}} |
||
{{s-vac|next=[[ |
{{s-vac|next=[[The Lord Mandelson]]}} |
||
|- |
|||
{{s-ppo}} |
|||
{{succession box|title=Leader of the [[European Parliamentary Labour Party]]|years=1976–1979|before=[[Michael Stewart, Baron Stewart of Fulham|Michael Stewart]]|after=[[Barbara Castle]]}} |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[Margaret Beckett]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]]|years=1994–2007}} |
|||
{{s-aft|after=[[Harriet Harman]]}} |
|||
{{s-prec|uk}} |
|||
{{s-bef|before=[[Quentin Davies|The Lord Davies of Stamford]]}} |
|||
{{s-ttl|title=[[Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom|Gentlemen]]'''<br />''Baron Prescott'' '''}} |
|||
{{s-fol|after=[[Tim Boswell|The Lord Boswell of Aynho]]}} |
|||
{{s-end}} |
{{s-end}} |
||
{{Deputy Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom}} |
|||
{{UKDeputyPrimeMinisters}} |
|||
{{First Secretary of State}} |
|||
{{Secretary of State for Environment}} |
{{Secretary of State for Environment}} |
||
{{Minister of State for Transport}} |
|||
{{UK Labour Party}} |
|||
{{Labour Party leadership election, 1994}} |
|||
{{Labour Party deputy leadership election, 1994}} |
|||
{{Labour Party deputy leadership election, 1992}} |
|||
{{Labour Party deputy leadership election, 1988}} |
|||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] --> |
|||
{{Persondata |
|||
|NAME= Prescott, John Leslie |
|||
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |
|||
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=[[Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] (1997-2007) |
|||
|DATE OF BIRTH= 31 May 1938 |
|||
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Prestatyn]], [[Wales]], [[United Kingdom|UK]] |
|||
|DATE OF DEATH= |
|||
|PLACE OF DEATH= |
|||
}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prescott, John}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Prescott, John}} |
||
[[Category:1938 births]] |
[[Category:1938 births]] |
||
[[Category:Alumni of Ruskin College]] |
[[Category:Alumni of Ruskin College]] |
||
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Hull]] |
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Hull]] |
||
[[Category:British |
[[Category:British Secretaries of State for the Environment]] |
||
[[Category:Deputy |
[[Category:Deputy prime ministers of the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category:First Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:First Secretaries of State of the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category:Labour |
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MEPs]] |
||
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]] |
|||
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) life peers]] |
|||
[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
||
[[Category:MEPs for the United Kingdom 1973–1979]] |
|||
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:People who resigned from the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:National Union of Seamen-sponsored MPs]] |
||
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]] |
|||
[[Category:People from Prestatyn]] |
[[Category:People from Prestatyn]] |
||
[[Category:Politicians from Kingston upon Hull]] |
|||
[[Category:Politics of the East Riding of Yorkshire]] |
[[Category:Politics of the East Riding of Yorkshire]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Sailors from Kingston upon Hull]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Secretaries of State for Transport (UK)]] |
||
[[Category:Trade unionists from Kingston upon Hull]] |
|||
[[Category:UK MPs 1970–1974]] |
|||
[[Category:UK MPs 1974]] |
[[Category:UK MPs 1974]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1974–1979]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1979–1983]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1983–1987]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1987–1992]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1992–1997]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–2005]] |
||
[[Category:UK MPs |
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]] |
||
[[Category:Welsh sailors]] |
|||
[[Category:British republicans]] |
|||
[[bg:Джон Прескът]] |
|||
[[ |
[[Category:New Labour]] |
||
[[de:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[es:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[fr:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[it:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[la:Iohannes Prescott]] |
|||
[[mr:जॉन प्रेस्कॉट]] |
|||
[[ja:ジョン・プレスコット]] |
|||
[[no:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[pl:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[ro:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[simple:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[fi:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[sv:John Prescott]] |
|||
[[zh:彭仕國]] |
Revision as of 00:12, 23 June 2024
The Lord Prescott | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Michael Heseltine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Nick Clegg[a] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 21 July 1994 – 24 June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Margaret Beckett | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Harriet Harman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First Secretary of State | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Michael Heseltine[b] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | The Lord Mandelson[c] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of the House of Lords | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life peerage 8 July 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull East | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 18 June 1970 – 12 April 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Harry Pursey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Karl Turner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | John Leslie Prescott 31 May 1938 Prestatyn, Flintshire, Wales | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Pauline Tilston (m. 1961) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Ruskin College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | University of Hull | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Signature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott (born 31 May 1938) is a British politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and as First Secretary of State from 2001 to 2007. A member of the Labour Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years from 1970 to 2010. He was often seen as the political link to the working class in a Labour Party increasingly led by modernising, middle-class professionals such as Tony Blair and Peter Mandelson and developed a reputation as a key conciliator in the often fractious relationship between Blair and Gordon Brown.
Born in Prestatyn, Wales, in his youth Prescott failed the eleven-plus entrance exam for grammar school and worked as a ship's steward and trade union activist. He went on to graduate from Ruskin College and the University of Hull. In the 1994 Labour Party leadership election, he stood for both the leadership and deputy leadership, winning election to the latter office. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister after Labour's victory in the 1997 election, with an expanded brief as Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions until 2001 then subsequently First Secretary of State until 2007. In June 2007, he resigned as Deputy Prime Minister, coinciding with Blair's resignation as Prime Minister. Following an election within the Labour Party, he was replaced as deputy leader by Harriet Harman.
After retiring as a Member of Parliament at the 2010 general election, Prescott entered the House of Lords as a life peer with the title Baron Prescott, of Kingston upon Hull in the County of East Yorkshire. He stood as the Labour candidate in the 2012 election to be the first Police and crime commissioner for Humberside Police but lost to Conservative Party candidate Matthew Grove. Prescott resigned from the Privy Council in 2013 to protest delays to the introduction of press regulation of which he had become a proponent. In February 2015, he returned to politics as an adviser to Labour leader Ed Miliband.
Early life
Prescott was born in Prestatyn, Wales, on 31 May 1938[1][2][3] to Phyllis and John Herbert Prescott. John Prescott's father worked as a railway signalman and Labour councillor. When he was a preteen, his family won a competition to find the "most typical British family of 1951".[4] In 2009, he said: "I've always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh...I was born in Wales, went to school in Wales and my mother was Welsh. I'm Welsh. It's my place of birth, my country."[5] He left Wales in 1942 at the age of four and was brought up initially in Brinsworth in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. He attended Brinsworth Manor School, where in 1949 he sat but failed the 11-Plus examination to attend Rotherham Grammar School. Shortly afterwards, his family moved to Upton-by-Chester, and he attended Grange Secondary Modern School in nearby Ellesmere Port.[6]
Prescott became a steward and waiter in the Merchant Navy, thus avoiding National service, working for Cunard, and was a popular left-wing union activist. Prescott's time in the Merchant Navy included a cruise from England to New Zealand in 1957.[7][8] Among the passengers was former British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden, recuperating after his resignation over the Suez Crisis. Prescott reportedly described Eden as a "real gentleman". Apart from serving Eden, who stayed in his cabin much of the time, Prescott also won several boxing contests, at which Eden presented the prizes.[8] He married Pauline "Tilly" Tilston at Upton Church in Chester on 11 November 1961.[9] He then went to Ruskin College, which specialises in courses for union officials, where he gained a diploma in economics and politics in 1965. In 1968, he obtained a BSc degree in economics and economic history from the University of Hull.[10]
Member of Parliament
Prescott returned to the National Union of Seamen as a full-time official before being elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull East in 1970, succeeding Commander Harry Pursey, the retiring Labour MP. The defeated Conservative challenger was Norman Lamont. Previously, he had attempted to become MP for Southport in 1966, but came in second place, approximately 9,500 votes behind the Conservative candidate.[11] From July 1975 to 1979, he concurrently served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Leader of the Labour Group, when its members were nominated by the national Parliaments.[11] In 1988 Prescott and Eric Heffer challenged Roy Hattersley for the deputy leadership of the party, but Roy Hattersley was reelected as deputy leader. Prescott stood again in the 1992 deputy leadership election, following Hattersley's retirement, but lost to Margaret Beckett.[12]
Prescott held various posts in Labour's Shadow Cabinet, but his career was secured by an impassioned closing speech in the debate at the Labour Party Conference in 1993 on the introduction of "one member, one vote" for the selection and reselection of Labour Parliamentary candidates that helped swing the vote in favour of this reform. In 1994 Prescott was a candidate in the party leadership election that followed the death of John Smith, standing for the positions of both leader and deputy leader.[11] Tony Blair won the leadership contest, with Prescott being elected deputy leader.[11]
Deputy Prime Minister
With the formation of a Labour government in 1997, Prescott was made Deputy Prime Minister and given a very large portfolio as the head of the newly created Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions. In the United Kingdom, the title of Deputy Prime Minister is used only occasionally, and confers no constitutional powers (in which it is similar to the pre-20th century usage of Prime Minister). The Deputy Prime Minister stands in when the Prime Minister is unavailable, most visibly at Prime minister's questions, and Prescott had attended various Heads of Government meetings on behalf of then Prime Minister Tony Blair.[13]
Since the position of Deputy Prime Minister draws no salary, Prescott's remuneration was based on his position as Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions until 2001. This "super department" was then broken up, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport established as separate entities. Prescott, still Deputy Prime Minister, was also given the largely honorific title of First Secretary of State. In July 2001 an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created to administer the areas remaining under his responsibility.[14] This was originally part of the Cabinet Office, but became a department in its own right in May 2002, when it absorbed some of the responsibilities of the former Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. The ODPM had responsibility for local and regional government, housing, communities and the fire service.
Environment, Transport and the Regions
Environment
The UK played a major role in the successful negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol on climate change and Prescott led the UK delegation at the discussions.[15][16] In May 2006, in recognition of his work in delivering the Kyoto Treaty, Tony Blair asked him to work with the Foreign Secretary and the Environment Secretary on developing the Government's post-Kyoto agenda.[17]
As minister on 24 August 1999, Prescott made regulations banning the use of Chrysotile Asbestos which resulted in a complete ban on the usage of any Asbestos containing products in the United Kingdom from 24 November 1999.[18][19]
Integrated transport policy
On coming to office, Prescott pursued an integrated public transport policy. On 6 June 1997, he said: "I will have failed if in five years time there are not...far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order but I urge you to hold me to it."[20] However, by June 2002, car traffic was up by 7%. This prompted Friends of the Earth's Tony Bosworth to say "By its own test, Government transport policy has failed".[21]
Prescott had success in focusing attention on the role of car usage in the bigger environmental picture and the need for effective public transport alternatives if car volume is to be reduced. The subsequent debate on road pricing evolved from his policy. A contrast was highlighted between Prescott's transport brief and an incident, in 1999, when an official chauffeur-driven car was used to transport Prescott and his wife 250 yards (230 m) from their hotel to the venue of the Labour Party Conference, where Prescott gave a speech on how to encourage the use of public transport. Prescott explained, "Because of the security reasons for one thing and second, my wife doesn't like to have her hair blown about. Have you got another silly question?"[22] Prescott has been fined for speeding on four occasions.[23][24]
Rail regulation
Prescott had a stormy relationship with the privatisation of the railway industry. He had vigorously opposed the privatisation of the industry while the Labour Party was in opposition, and disliked the party's policy, established in 1996 just before the flotation of Railtrack on the London Stock Exchange, of committing to renationalise the industry only when resources allowed, which he saw as meaning that it would never be done.[citation needed] Reluctantly, he supported the alternative policy, produced by then shadow transport secretary Clare Short, that the industry should be subjected to closer regulation by the to-be-created Strategic Rail Authority (in the case of the passenger train operators) and the Rail Regulator (in the case of the monopoly and dominant elements in the industry, principally Railtrack). The policy was spelled out in some detail in the Labour Party's statement in the June 1996 prospectus for the sale of Railtrack shares, and was widely regarded as having depressed the price of the shares.[citation needed]
In 1998, Prescott was criticised by Transport Minister John Reid for his statement – at the Labour Party conference that year – that the privatised railway was a "national disgrace", despite receiving a standing ovation from the Labour Party audience.[25] The companies felt that they had had some considerable successes in cutting costs and generating new revenues in the short time since their transfer to private sector hands, and that the criticisms were premature and unfair.[26]
In that speech, Prescott also announced that he would be taking a far tougher line with the companies, and to that end he would be having a "spring clean" of the industry.[27] This meant that the incumbent Director of Passenger Rail Franchising – John O'Brien – and the Rail Regulator John Swift QC – both appointed by the previous Conservative government, would have to make way for new Labour appointees.
In July 1998, Prescott, published a transport White Paper stating that the rail industry needed an element of stability and certainty if it was to plan its activities effectively.[28]
In February 1999, the regulation of the passenger rail operators fell to Sir Alastair Morton,[d] who Prescott announced would be appointed as chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority, which would take over from the Director of Passenger Rail Franchising whose office would be wound up. In July 1999, the new Rail Regulator appointed by Prescott was Tom Winsor.[d] They shared Prescott's view that the railway industry needed a considerable shake-up in its institutional, operational, engineering and economic matrix to attract and retain private investment and enable the companies within it to become strong, competent and successful.[29]
Local and regional government
Responsible for local government, Prescott introduced a new system guiding members' conduct after 2001. The new system included a nationally agreed Code of Conduct laid down by Statutory instrument which all local authorities were required to adopt; the Code of Conduct gives guidance on when councillors have an interest in a matter under discussion and when that interest is prejudicial so that the councillor may not speak or vote on the matter. Although on many areas councillors had previously been expected to withdraw where they had declared an interest, the new system made the system more formal and introduced specific sanctions for breaches; it was criticised for preventing councillors from representing the views of their local communities.[30]
Prescott supported regional government in England. Early in his term, he introduced regional assemblies (consisting of delegates from local authorities and other regional stakeholders) to oversee the work of new Regional Development Agencies in the regions of England. Following Labour's second election victory, he pressed for the introduction of elected regional assemblies, which would have seen about 25 to 35 members elected under a similar electoral system to that used for the London Assembly. However, because of opposition, the government was forced to hold regional referendums on the change. The first three were intended to be in the North-East, North-West and Yorkshire and the Humber. The North-East referendum in November 2004 was first (where support was felt to be strongest) but resulted in an overwhelming vote of 78% against. As a consequence, the plan for elected regional assemblies was shelved.
Housing
A rising number of households (especially in the south-east) were putting added pressure on housing during Prescott's tenure as the minister responsible. An increase in the housebuilding was proposed, primarily on brownfield sites, but also on some undeveloped greenfield areas and as a result he was accused of undermining the Green Belt.[31][32][33][34] During a radio interview in January 1998, Prescott was asked about housing development on the green belt; intending to convey that the government would enlarge green belt protection, Prescott replied: "It's a Labour achievement, and we mean to build on it".[35] He had not intended to make a joke and was distressed when it prompted laughter.[36]
In the north of England, Prescott approved the demolition of some 200,000 homes that were judged to be in "failing areas" as part of his Pathfinder regeneration scheme. It has been argued that renovating properties, rather than demolishing them, would have made better financial and community sense.[37]
Prescott led the campaign to abolish council housing, which ran out of steam when tenants in Birmingham voted to stay with the council in 2002.[38] A previous attempt to privatise all the council housing in the London Borough of Camden failed in 1997.[39]
Opposition to education reforms
On 17 December 2005, Prescott made public his disapproval of Tony Blair's plans to give state schools the right to govern their finances and admission policies and to increase the number of city academies. It was the first policy stance that Prescott had made against Blair since his election as leader in 1994. Prescott said that the move would create a two-tier educational system that would discriminate against the working class.[40] He added that Labour were "always better fighting class".[41]
Links with the grass roots
Prescott, sometimes described as "an old-school unionist", kept in touch with the views of the traditional Labour voters throughout his career. He became an important figure in Tony Blair's "New Labour" movement, as the representative of 'old Labour' interests in the Shadow cabinet and subsequently around the Cabinet table as Deputy Prime Minister.
However, now a member of the establishment, relationships with the grass roots were not always smooth. Whilst attending the Brit Awards in 1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon poured a jug of iced water over Prescott, saying, "This is for the Liverpool Dockers".[42] (Dock workers in Liverpool had been involved in a two-year industrial dispute: a strike that had turned into a lock-out, until a few weeks earlier.) A reporter from the Daily Mirror threw water over Nobacon the following day.[43]
Abolition of department
In a Cabinet reshuffle on 5 May 2006, Prescott's departmental responsibilities were transferred to Ruth Kelly, as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, following revelations about his private life and a poor performance by Labour in that year's local elections. He remained as Deputy Prime Minister, with a seat in the Cabinet, and was given a role as a special envoy to the Far East as well as additional responsibilities chairing cabinet committees.[44][45] Despite having lost his departmental responsibilities it was announced that he would retain his full salary (£134,000pa) and pension entitlements, along with both his grace-and-favour homes, an announcement which received considerable criticism.[46]
The press speculated in July 2006 that, as a consequence of the continuing problems centred on Prescott, Blair was preparing to replace him as Deputy Prime Minister with David Miliband, whilst possibly retaining Prescott as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party,[47] but nothing came of this.
Announcement of retirement
In a speech to the 2006 Labour Party Conference in Manchester, Prescott apologised for the bad press he had caused the party during the previous year. He said: "I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So Conference, I just want to say sorry", and confirmed that he would stand down as deputy leader when Blair resigned the premiership.[48] Prescott subsequently announced in the House of Commons that he was "... in a rather happy demob stage", in January 2007.[49]
Within 30 minutes of Blair announcing the date of his resignation on 10 May 2007, Prescott announced his resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party. During the subsequent special Labour Party Conference, Gordon Brown was elected Leader and Harriet Harman succeeded Prescott as Deputy Leader.[citation needed]
Life after government
Following his resignation, it was announced that Prescott would take over from Tony Lloyd as the lead UK Representative in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In a jocular response to the appointment, Shadow Europe Minister Mark Francois wished the translators good luck.[50] The post is unpaid but has an expenses allowance and allows him to sit on the Assembly of the Western European Union. He has used his role on the council to make his campaign against slave labour a key issue.[51]
On 27 August 2007, Prescott stated that he would stand down as an MP at the next general election.[52] His autobiography, Prezza, My Story: Pulling no Punches was published on 29 May 2008 and ghostwritten by Hunter Davies.[53][54] During the 2010 general election campaign, Prescott toured the UK in a customised white transit van dubbed his "Battlebus" canvassing support for the Labour Party.[55] Prescott was publicly very supportive of Gordon Brown, and has called him a "global giant".[56]
It was announced on 28 May 2010 that Prescott was to be awarded a life peerage,[57] The peerage was gazetted on 15 June in the 2010 Dissolution Honours.[58] Prescott has stated in interviews that he is not religious.[59] He chose to make a non-religious solemn affirmation rather than swearing an oath during his introduction in the House of Lords. He was introduced into the House on 8 July as Baron Prescott, of Kingston upon Hull in the County of East Yorkshire,[60] and the Letters patent were gazetted on 12 July, dated 7 July.[61]
Prescott is a director of Super League rugby league club Hull Kingston Rovers, who are based in his former constituency of Kingston upon Hull East.[62] Prescott ran for Labour Party Treasurer in September 2010 but was defeated by Diana Holland,[63] who took 68.96% of the total vote.[64][65]
On 30 July 2010, Prescott appeared before the panel at the Chilcot Inquiry concerning the Iraq War. Prescott stated that he was doubtful about the legality, intelligence and information about Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction. The inquiry was launched by Gordon Brown in the summer of 2009 shortly after operations in the war ended.[66] In 2016, after publication of the resultant Chilcot Report, which was critical of the war but remained neutral on its legality, Prescott declared that the invasion by UK and US forces had been "illegal" and that members of Tony Blair's Cabinet "were given too little paper documentation to make decisions".[67]
In February 2012, Prescott announced he would stand for Labour's nomination in the election to be the first Police and crime commissioner for Humberside Police.[68] In June he was selected as the Labour candidate for the election in November 2012.[69] In the November election Prescott won the most first preference votes but ended up losing to Conservative Matthew Grove in the second count.[70]
In March 2013, Prescott suggested that the Queen, Elizabeth II, should abdicate due to her health.[71] Prescott was criticised for his position by several MPs.[71]
On 6 July 2013, Prescott revealed in a newspaper column that he had resigned from the Privy Council in protest against the delays to the introduction of press regulation.[72] The resignation only became effective on 6 November the same year.[73] The Coalition Government had insisted that the Privy Council must consider a cross-party Royal Charter to underpin a new system of regulation, but that this meant that a final decision would not be taken before 2015.[74]
On 21 February 2015, it was announced Prescott would return to politics as an adviser to Labour leader Ed Miliband.[75]
In October 2015, Prescott was presented with the Shechtman International Leadership Award at the Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit 2015 in Antalya, Turkey, for his contributions to sustainable development in politics.[76]
Television appearances
In June 2008, Prescott made a cameo appearance, playing a policeman, in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Robert Tressell's The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists. In 2009, he made a brief cameo appearance as himself in the final episode of the BBC Three comedy series Gavin & Stacey (this referred to a running joke in the show regarding a relationship the character Nessa had had with him many years previously).[77] Beginning on 7 January 2011, Prescott appeared in a TV advert for price comparison website moneysupermarket.com, along with comedian Omid Djalili, which gently mocks events in his political career.[78] On 27 February 2011, he appeared on the BBC's Top Gear as the "Star in the Reasonably Priced Car", where he set a lap time of 1.56.7, the second slowest in a Kia Ceed.[e] He also engaged in a discussion with host Jeremy Clarkson regarding his time in Government. He appeared as himself in the 2014 Comic Relief film David Walliams' Exes.[citation needed]
In October and November 2008, Prescott was the subject of a two-part documentary, Prescott: the Class System and Me, on BBC Two, looking at the class system in Britain, and asking whether it still exists.[79] In 2009, he featured in the BBC Wales TV series Coming Home about his Welsh family history, with roots in Prestatyn and Chirk.[citation needed] In October 2009, he was featured in another BBC Two documentary, Prescott: The North/South Divide, in which he and his wife Pauline explored the current state of the North-South Divide from their perspective as Northern Englanders long used to living in the south of the country.[80]
In 2019, Prescott hosted the television series Made in Britain, which explored the manufacturing of some of Britain's favourite foods.[81]
Controversies
Council tax
In 2003, Prescott gave up a home that he had rented from the RMT Union in Clapham; he had left the union in June 2002. Prescott paid £220 a month for the property – a fifth of its market value.[82] Though he had not declared the flat in the register of members' interests, he was subsequently exonerated by MPs who overruled Elizabeth Filkin, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.[83] On 12 January 2006, Prescott apologised after it was revealed that the council tax for the government flat he occupied at Admiralty House was paid from public money, rather than his private income. He repaid the amount, which came to £3,830.52 over nearly nine years.[84]
Sexual infidelities
Prescott has come under fire for additional controversies over sexual infidelities.[85] On 26 April 2006, he admitted to having had an affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, between 2002 and 2004.[86] This two-year affair is said to have commenced after an office party and, in part, took place during meetings at Prescott's grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall. Conservative MP Andrew Robathan tabled questions in the House of Commons over Prescott's reported entertainment of Temple at Dorneywood, his official residence, which raised questions over the possible misuse of public finances.[87]
He was criticised for maintaining the benefits of Deputy Prime Minister despite losing his department in 2006. He was criticised for visiting the American billionaire Phil Anschutz who was bidding for the government licence to build a super casino in the UK,[88][89][90] and questioned over his involvement in the business of his son Johnathan Prescott.[91][92] He was photographed playing croquet at Dorneywood, his then "grace and favour" home, when Tony Blair was out of the country on a visit to Washington.[93] Prescott was mocked in the media – in part because the game was so divorced from his working-class roots – and he gave up the use of the house.[94] He later said that it had been his staff's idea to play croquet and that contrary to press reports, he had not been Acting Prime Minister when he had played the game.[95][96]
Sexual assault allegation
On 7 May 2006, The Sunday Times quoted Linda McDougall, wife of Austin Mitchell, as saying that in 1978 Prescott had pushed her "quite forcefully" against a wall[97] and put his hand up her skirt as she opened the door for him to a meeting in her own house just after her husband became an MP; Prescott had not previously met her.
Expenses claims
On 8 May 2009, The Daily Telegraph began publishing leaked details of MPs' expenses. The Telegraph reported that Prescott had claimed £312 for fitting mock Tudor beams to his constituency home, and for two new toilet seats in as many years. Prescott responded by saying, "Every expense was within the rules of the House of Commons on claiming expenses at the time".[98]
2001 Rhyl incident
On 16 May 2001, when arriving for a rally in Rhyl, Prescott was assaulted by a pro-hunting supporter Craig Evans who is an enforcement officer for Natural Resources Wales. Craig Evans threw an egg at him. Prescott retaliated by punching the protester. A momentary ensuing scuffle was broken up by police and bystanders. This earned Prescott the nickname "Two Jabs".[99]
Public profile
Prescott gained a reputation in the British press for confused speech, mangled syntax and poor grammar.[100] The Guardian columnist Simon Hoggart once commented: "Every time Prescott opens his mouth, it's like someone has flipped open his head and stuck in an egg whisk."[101] An oft-quoted but unverified story in Jeremy Paxman's The Political Animal is that, before being accepted as transcribers to the Parliamentary record Hansard, applicants must listen to one of Prescott's speeches and write down what they think he was trying to say. However, Liz Davies wrote that on the Labour National Executive Committee, Prescott "spoke in clear, concise sentences and his point was always understandable. Contrary to his television and parliamentary image, he appears to choose his words with care."[102]
The media have attached various sobriquets to Prescott during his political career. Originally, Prescott's nickname was "Prezza",[103] but as various misfortunes befell him the sobriquets became more colourful, leading to "Two Jags", which set the template for later nicknames.[104] Prescott owns one Jaguar, and had the use of another as his official ministerial car. A later version of this term was "Two Jabs",[105] following his retaliation against a protester farmer in 2001, and "Two Shacks",[106] referring to his former country house. When he lost his department in a cabinet reshuffle following exposure of his affair, newspapers dubbed him "Two Shags"[107] and "No Jobs".[108] Banned from driving after being convicted of speeding in 1991, Prescott was banned again after a similar conviction in June 2015.[109] This led to him being nicknamed "Two bans".
Prescott has been involved in a number of incidents that have caused widespread media interest. During the 2001 election campaign, Prescott was campaigning in Rhyl, Denbighshire, when one Craig Evans threw an egg at him. Prescott, a former amateur boxer, responded immediately with a straight left to the jaw.[110][111] The incident, overshadowing the launch of the Labour Party manifesto on that day, was captured by television cameras. Tony Blair responded by stating: "John is John".[112] A National Opinion Polls (NOP) survey found that the incident did no public harm to Prescott, and may even have benefited his standing amongst male voters.[113][114] Speaking on Top Gear, Prescott stated: "I was against fox-hunting, and he thought I was one of the guys he hated because I wanted to keep fox-hunting". He elaborated:
When I walked past this guy, and he hit me with the egg, right, I don't know it was an egg, I just feel this very warm thing running down my neck and I think, well I just think somebody's perhaps knifed me or assaulted me, you know, that all happens in a split second, and I see this fellow built like a bloody barn door, and I turned, and I reacted, and when Tony [Blair] asked me, er, what happened I said I was carrying out his orders; he told us to connect with the electorate, so I did.
— John Prescott[115], [non-primary source needed]
Personal life
Family
Prescott and Pauline Tilston married in 1961. They have two sons. The elder, Johnathan Prescott, is a businessman. Their younger son, David Prescott, is active in Labour Party politics and works in the office of former party leader Jeremy Corbyn;[116] he failed to be selected for his father's parliamentary seat in Hull[117] but was the Labour candidate for Gainsborough in 2015. Pauline had a son by an American airman in the 1950s, whom she gave up for adoption.[2]
Health concerns
Prescott was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990,[118] although this was not publicly disclosed until 2002.[119] On 2 June 2007 he was admitted to hospital after being taken ill on a train from his constituency in Hull to London King's Cross.[120] He was later diagnosed with pneumonia and was treated at University College Hospital, London. He was moved to a high-dependency ward on 5 June 2007 so he could be monitored more closely because of his age and the fact he suffers from diabetes.[121] On 6 June 2007 it was reported in the media that his condition was stable and that he was sitting up and "joking" with hospital staff.[122] He was subsequently released from hospital on 10 June 2007 to continue his recovery at home.[123]
In April 2008, Prescott recounted having suffered from the eating disorder bulimia nervosa, which he believed was brought on by stress, from the 1980s until 2007.[124]
Prescott was admitted to Hull Royal Infirmary on 21 June 2019 after suffering a stroke.[125] He subsequently returned to his duties.[126]
Bibliography
- Hoggart, Simon (2003). Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-8397-9.
- Brown, Colin (1997). Fighting Talk: Biography of John Prescott. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-684-81798-5.
- Prescott, John (2008). Prezza: My Story: Pulling No Punches. Headline. ISBN 978-0-7553-1775-2.
See also
Notes
- ^ Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 11 May 2010.
- ^ Office vacant from 2 May 1997 to 8 June 2001.
- ^ Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 5 June 2009.
- ^ a b Sir Alastair Morton left office, early, in October 2001. Tom Winsor continued until the end of his five-year term in July 2004.
- ^ though, his lap was made in heavy wet condition. The slowest lap time, made by Damian Lewis, was in a heavy snow condition which significantly made the lap time much slower (2:09.1, about 12 seconds slower than Prescott's).
References
- ^ O'Grady, Sean (19 May 2001). "John Prescott: A street-fighting man". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ a b Lewis, Roger (27 February 2011). "Smile Though Your Heart is Breaking by Pauline Prescott: review". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 4 November 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ "BBC-North East Wales public life -John Prescott". BBC. February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 December 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2011.
- ^ "The John Prescott story". BBC News. 15 November 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "John Prescott learns of incest among his Welsh ancestors". WalesOnline. Media Wales Ltd. 30 November 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2009.
- ^ Chester Chronicle (20 September 2016). "Former Chester school boy John Prescott slams grammar school plans". CheshireLive. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Prescott at Your Service". BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 4 February 2007.
- ^ a b Grimley, Naomi (25 January 2007). "When Prescott served Eden". BBC News. Archived from the original on 31 March 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2009.
- ^ Brown, Colin (29 April 2006). "Pauline Prescott: Wounded party". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ Criddle, Byron (2005) The Almanac of British Politics, Routledge, pp. 494-495
- ^ a b c d "Lord Prescott". 4 September 2010. Archived from the original on 4 September 2010.
- ^ Hattersley, Roy (25 September 1997). "There is No Alternative". The Guardian. ProQuest 245169723.
- ^ "Bilateral Meeting of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland with the Deputy Prime Minister of Great Britain". The Chancellery of the Prime Minister (Poland). Archived from the original on 7 March 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2006.
- ^ "The office of Deputy Prime Minister" (PDF). House of Commons. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
- ^ Brown, Paul (1 June 2002). "Hopes for Kyoto rise after Japan and EU ratify treaty". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Habberley, Stephen (1 June 2006). "Prescott's highs and lows". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "John Leslie Prescott". 10 Downing Street. Archived from the original on 10 January 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2006.
- ^ "White Asbestos ban is set to beat European deadline". Construction News. 26 August 1999. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "The British Asbestos Newsletter". www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org (36). Autumn 1999. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ "ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS, RELATING TO TRANSPORT The Secretary of State was asked". Hansard. 20 October 1998. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
- ^ "Friends of the Earth – Transport policy fails the Prescott test". Foe.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott walks it like he talks it". BBC News. 30 September 1999. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "80mph Prescott fined". The Sunday Times. 5 January 1997. p. 2.
- ^ Patrick, Guy (5 January 1997). "Cops nick speeding Prescott". News of the World. p. 9.
- ^ "Trains a 'national disgrace'". BBC News. 1 October 1998. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Glaister, Stephen. "OCCASIONAL PAPER 23: BRITISH RAIL PRIVATISATION ~ COMPETITION DESTROYED BY POLITICS" (PDF). Centre for the Study of Regulated Industries. University of Bath. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Anderson, Graham (8 October 1998). "Prescott gives signal for rail improvement". Construction News. Archived from the original on 13 January 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, A new deal for transport: better for everyone, Cm 3950, July 1998, para 4.22
- ^ "Railways Bill , House of Commons Debate cc789-893". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 July 1999. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
- ^ Booker, Christopher (26 February 2006). "Christopher Booker's notebook". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Labour homes policy comes under fire". BBC News. 27 January 1998. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "MPs criticise Prescott's 'vague' building policy". BBC News. 30 July 1998. Archived from the original on 21 July 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Prescott under pressure over housing". BBC News. 13 October 1999. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Tories pledge to protect greenbelt". BBC News. 30 April 2001. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2012.
- ^ "Passing comment – Quote". The Times. 31 January 1998. p. 8.
- ^ Oppenheim, Phillip (11 July 1999). "Deputy Prescott, a son of a gun but one of a dangerous breed". The Sunday Times. p. 16.
- ^ Clover, Charles (16 May 2005). "Has John Prescott got his sums right?". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- ^ Defend Council Housing. "Who has voted NO". Archived from the original on 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
- ^ Defend Council Housing (2004). "Camden Tenants Vote 7[7]% No to ALMO". Archived from the original on 5 February 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ Elliot, Francis (17 December 2005). "Prescott hits out over 'great danger' from Blair's school reforms". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Hennessy, Patrick; Kite, Melissa (19 December 2005). "Class war: Prescott attacks Blair's education reforms and Cameron's 'Eton Mafia'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 18 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Soaked Prescott Rages at Pop Band". Evening Standard. 10 February 1998. Archived from the original on 30 December 2003. Retrieved 7 December 2003.
- ^ "Four claret gold! Burnley's soccer-mad pop anarchists who fly first-class". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 3 June 1998. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007.
- ^ Oakeshott, Isabel (7 May 2006). "Prescott the predator keeps his spoils". The Sunday Times. London.
- ^ "Blair outlines new Prescott role". BBC News. 17 May 2006. Archived from the original on 27 June 2006. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Barnett, Antony (6 May 2006). "Prescott pension pot to be £1.5m | Politics | The Observer". Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Cracknell, David; UngoedThomas, Jon (9 July 2006). "No. 10 lines up Miliband for Prescott job". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
- ^ "Prescott tells Labour: I'm sorry". BBC News. 28 September 2006. Archived from the original on 28 September 2006. Retrieved 28 September 2006.
- ^ "I'm 'demob happy', says Prescott". BBC News. 31 January 2007. Archived from the original on 2 February 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2007.
- ^ "Prescott in Council of Europe job". BBC News. 4 July 2007. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2007.
- ^ Brown, Colin (23 August 2007). "Prescott to stand down at election and focus on Council of Europe role". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "John Prescott to stand down as MP". BBC News. 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2007.
- ^ Headline: ISBN 978-0-7553-1775-2.
- ^ "Have they got books for you". The Bookseller. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008.
- ^ "John Prescott launches his Election Battlebus". BBC News. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2012.
- ^ "Prescott: Brown is 'global giant'". BBC News. 21 September 2009. Archived from the original on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Dissolution honours: John Prescott made a peer". BBC News. 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ^ "No. 59459". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 2010. p. 11151.
- ^ "John Prescott, suffering from pneumonia is moved to high dependency unit". Pink News. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Lord Prescott takes his place in the House of Lords". BBC News. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "No. 59485". The London Gazette. 12 July 2010. p. 13181.
- ^ "Prescott handed role at Hull KR". BBC Sport. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2007.
- ^ "Lord Prescott fails in Treasurer bid". BBC News. 26 September 2010.
- ^ Sparrow, Andrew (26 September 2010). "Labour conference live – Sunday 26 September". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Treasurer Results | the Labour Party". Archived from the original on 16 June 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
- ^ Mulholland, Helene (30 July 2010). "Lord Prescott admits intelligence doubts prior to Iraq war". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 19 September 2016.
- ^ "John Prescott: Ex-deputy PM says Iraq War was illegal". BBC News. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 10 July 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
- ^ Travis, Alan (10 February 2012). "John Prescott to stand for police commissioner post". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
- ^ "Lord Prescott aims for Humberside police job". BBC News. 18 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ^ "Police election results". BBC News. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ a b Hope, Christopher (24 March 2013). "Lord Prescott told to 'stop speculating' after suggesting Queen should abdicate". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "John Prescott: Why I've quit Privy Council after 19 years". Sunday Mirror. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ^ "Privy Council Office". www.thegazette.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "John Prescott resigns from Privy Council". BBC News. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
- ^ "John Prescott set to return to front-line politics". BBC News. 22 February 2015. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
- ^ "Lord John Prescott is awarded the Shechtman International Leadership Award in Turkey". www.flogen.org. FLOGEN Star OUTREACH. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ "John Prescott in Gavin and Stacey". 9 December 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
- ^ Bloxham, Andy (7 January 2011). "John Prescott 'paid five figures' for boxing advert". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ Hanks, Robert (28 October 2008). "Last Night's Television – Prescott: The Class System and Me, BBC2". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- ^ Wollaston, Sam (15 October 2009). "Prescott: The North/South Divide". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Made In Britain | Food". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
- ^ Malvern, Jack (21 January 2004). "Heroes of the Empire fight to stay rent-free". The Times. London. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Hencke, David (18 May 2000). "Watchdog overruled. MPs back Prescott over flat rented from union". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "Prescott apologises over tax bill". BBC News. 12 January 2006. Archived from the original on 15 October 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ Fenton, Ben (2 May 2006). "Prescott, a bully from a more brutal age". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Prescott admits affair with aide". BBC News. 28 April 2006. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Standards question over Prescott". BBC News. 27 April 2006. Archived from the original on 29 December 2006. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "Prescott declares US ranch stay". BBC News. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ Helm, Toby. "Prescott met US billionaire seven times". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ Hencke, David; Evans, Rob (6 July 2006). "Lobbying for a casino at the dome: how the deputy PM's officials got involved". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Auditors probe Prescott son's house deals". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 February 2003. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ Malkin, Bonnie; Copping, Jasper (19 August 2006). "Prescott is urged to tell all about son's land deals". Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ^ "Prescott Gives Up Dorneywood Home". News.sky.com. 1 June 2006. Archived from the original on 11 July 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
- ^ "Critics welcome Dorneywood move". BBC News. 1 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2015.
- ^ White, Michael (1 June 2006). "Prescott: I was wrong to hold on to Dorneywood". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ White, Michael (1 June 2006). "'I'm not a saint. I'm not a forever sinner ... and I'm not unique'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 September 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Prescott the predator keeps his spoils". The Sunday Times. London. 7 May 2006.
- ^ "Key details: MP expenses claims". BBC News. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "It's 18 years since John Prescott punched a man who egged him". Metro. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "FactCheck: Prezza pulls his punches?". Channel 4 News. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 November 2008.
- ^ "John Prescott: An Upstanding Member of UK PLC". The Friday Project. 28 April 2006. Archived from the original on 26 May 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ Davies, Liz (30 March 2001). "The odd couple". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ Smyth, Chris (9 July 2006). "Prezza's big gamble on Dome billionaire". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
- ^ "'Two Jags' Prescott in parking row". BBC News. 27 July 2001. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ "Prescott punches protester". On This Day. BBC. 16 May 2001. Archived from the original on 7 March 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew (1 June 2006). "'Two Shacks' Prescott". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ Hughes, A. K. (6 November 2013). A History of Political Scandals: Sex, Sleaze and Spin. Barnsley, Yorkshire: Pen & Sword History. ISBN 978-1-84468-089-4. Archived from the original on 4 January 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ Adams, Guy (24 May 2006). "Another sacked minister holds on to his residence". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 11 December 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
- ^ "'Two bans' Prescott caught speeding". The Daily Telegraph. London. 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Prescott sees red". BBC News. 17 May 2001. Archived from the original on 13 January 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "Prescott 'regrets' blow". BBC News. 17 May 2001. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "In Pictures: John Prescott". BBC News. 10 May 2007. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "NOP poll and Sunday Times analysis". The Guardian. UKPOL. 9 January 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
- ^ Perkins, Anne (21 September 2001). "Prescott in clear over rumble in Rhyl". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 March 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
- ^ "Series 16, Episode 6". Top Gear. 27 February 2011.
- ^ Elgot, Jessica (2 June 2019). "Labour urged to review complaints policy amid David Prescott claims". The Observer. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
- ^ "Son loses bid for Prescott's seat". BBC News. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2008. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
- ^ "How could a big man like John Prescott have a girls' illness". The Times. London. 20 April 2008. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott has diabetes". BBC News. 19 May 2002. Archived from the original on 12 October 2003. Retrieved 3 April 2010.
- ^ "Prescott admitted into hospital". BBC News. 5 June 2007. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott suffering from pneumonia". BBC News. 5 June 2007. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott's sixth day in hospital". BBC News. 7 June 2007. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ Woodward, Will (11 June 2007). "Prescott released from hospital". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 5 October 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
- ^ "Prescott tells of bulimia battle". BBC News. 20 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 20 April 2008.
- ^ "Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke". 24 June 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2019. Retrieved 24 June 2019.
- ^ Young, Angus (20 January 2020). "Legend John Prescott back in action after suffering stroke". HullLive. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
External links
- Parliamentary profile [1]
- John Prescott on X
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- BBC Profile, 5 May 2006
- John Prescott's gift of the gaffe, BBC News, 6 June 2003