Senior figures from Labour’s past and present are expected to gather at Hull Minster today for the funeral of former deputy prime minister John Prescott.
More than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to the service in East Yorkshire.
Lord Prescott died on November 20 last year, aged 86, in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimer’s.
A former trade union activist and merchant seaman, he was first elected to Parliament as MP for Hull in 1970, before going on to become a key member of Sir Tony Blair’s New Labour government.
He served as deputy PM under Sir Tony between 1997 and 2007 and earned the nickname ‘two Jags’ after it emerged he had two official Jaguar cars while in the role.
A former boxer, he was also remembered by many for punching a protester who threw an egg at him during an election campaign visit to North Wales in 2001.
Lord Prescott remained in the House of Commons until 2010, when he joined the House of Lords, but he rarely spoke in the upper chamber after suffering a stroke in 2019.
He officially ceased to be a member of the Lords in July last year, bringing to an end a parliamentary career that spanned more than half a century.
Ahead of his funeral today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer praised Lord Prescott’s ‘tenacity and vision’ as well as his ‘fighting spirit’.
Sir Keir said: ‘John Prescott’s funeral is a moment to reflect on his legacy alongside those that loved him most.
‘Since his death, I have been moved to hear countless people relate their stories of John – tales of characteristic generosity, humour and charisma.
‘Amongst the public, it’s clear that he had legendary status.
‘He was held in huge affection by people across the country who admired his straightforward authenticity and knew that he would always have their back.
‘His place in our history is assured – not, as he expected, for that one famous moment, but for his fighting spirit across an entire lifetime of service.
‘He will be remembered as a man who stood up for working people, fought for what he believed in, and changed our nation for the better.
‘We have his tenacity and vision to thank for that early action on climate change, regional inequality, the minimum wage, and public transport.
‘This is a day to give thanks for a remarkable life well lived. I know many people will be raising a glass to John today.’
Hosted by the Rev Canon Dominic Black, the service will include singing from the Choral-Hull children’s choir, made up from pupils across the city.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
As deputy PM, Lord Prescott oversaw the environment, transport and the regions, a brief which included helping to negotiate the international Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
He also acted as a mediator in the often turbulent relationship between Sir Tony and then-chancellor Gordon Brown.
Paying tribute to Lord Prescott in November, Sir Tony described him as ‘one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics’ and ‘one of the most committed and loyal, and definitely the most unusual’.
Mr Brown, Sir Tony’s successor in No10, said Lord Prescott was ‘key to holding the ring and keeping things together during difficult times such as over Iraq’.