Prestatyn-born John Prescott, the former deputy Prime Minister, Dies at 86

Labour Stalwart and Former Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has died aged 86.

John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott, was born in Prestatyn.

Rising from humble beginnings, he served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1997 to 2007, symbolising Labour’s working-class roots and mediating tensions in Tony Blair’s New Labour government.

In a statement, his wife Pauline and their two sons confirmed Prescott’s death, saying: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, John Prescott, has passed away peacefully at the age of 86. He died surrounded by family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.”

The family also expressed gratitude to the doctors and nurses who cared for him after his 2019 stroke and to staff at the care home where he lived with Alzheimer’s disease in his final years.

Prescott’s life was one of remarkable achievement and transformation.

Born in Prestatyn in 1938 to a working-class family, he left Wales at the age of four, eventually working as a ship’s steward in the Merchant Navy.

A fierce trade unionist, Prescott pursued further education as an adult, earning a degree in economics from the University of Hull. He entered politics in 1970 as MP for Kingston upon Hull East, a seat he held for four decades.

As Deputy Prime Minister under Tony Blair, Prescott played a vital role in balancing the interests of Labour’s traditional working-class base with the party’s modernising agenda.

He took on key portfolios, including housing, transport, and the environment, and was instrumental in advancing the UK’s participation in the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

His plain-speaking manner and passionate defence of Labour’s principles endeared him to many, though he was no stranger to controversy.

From his outspoken remarks on education reform to the infamous 2001 “Rhyl punch” incident, Prescott’s political career was marked by both determination and a refusal to shy away from confrontation.

After stepping down as an MP in 2010, Prescott was elevated to the House of Lords, where he continued to advocate for issues close to his heart, including environmental sustainability and press regulation.

Despite health setbacks, including diabetes, and a stroke, Prescott remained active in public life until recent years.

Prestatyn and Wales were never far from Prescott’s heart. Reflecting on his roots, he once said, “I’ve always felt very proud of Wales and being Welsh. It’s my place of birth, my country.”