View source for John Prescott

{{Short description|Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007}}
{{Other people}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = The Lord Prescott
| honorific_suffix    = 
| image               = John Prescott official portrait (cropped) (fixed).png
| caption             = Official portrait, {{circa|1997}}
| office              = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the United&nbsp;Kingdom]]<ref>Also held the role of [[First Secretary of State]] Simultaneously</ref>
| primeminister       = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start          = 2 May 1997
| term_end            = 27 June 2007
| predecessor         = [[Michael Heseltine]]
| successor           = [[Nick Clegg]]{{efn|Office not in use 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
| predecessor2        = Michael Heseltine{{efn|Office not in use from 2 May 1997 to 8 June 2001}}
| successor2          = [[Peter Mandelson]]{{efn|Office not in use 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]]
| term_start4         = 8 July 2010
| term_end4           = 9 July 2024<br />[[Life peer]]age
| office5             = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[Kingston upon Hull East]]
| term_start5         = 18 June 1970
| term_end5           = 12 April 2010
| predecessor5        = [[Harry Pursey]]
| successor5          = [[Karl Turner (British politician)|Karl Turner]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|[[Shadow cabinet]] posts
| cont = yes
| titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder
| embed = yes
| office6 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions|Shadow Secretary of State for Employment]]
| leader6 = {{ubl|[[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]|Margaret Beckett ''(interim)''}}
| term_start6 = 21 October 1993
| term_end6 = 21 July 1994
| predecessor6 = [[Frank Dobson]]
| successor6 = Harriet Harman
| 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
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1938|5|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Prestatyn]], Wales
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2024|11|20|1938|5|31|df=yes}}
| 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}}
| honorific-suffix    =
}}
{{Republicanism sidebar}}

'''John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott''' (31 May 1938 – 20 November 2024) was 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 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|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]] (although Prescott described himself as "pretty middle class"),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/prescott-declares-for-middle-classes-1304520.html|title=Prescott declares for middle classes|work=[[The Independent]]|author=John Rentoul|date=12 April 1996|accessdate=17 December 2024}}</ref> 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|1994 Labour 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 following 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 as [[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 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Prescott was made a [[life peer]] and sat in the [[House of Lords]] until 2024. He stood unsuccessfully 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]]. Prescott resigned from the [[Privy Council (United Kingdom)|Privy Council]] in 2013 in protest against delays to the introduction of press regulation, of which he had become a proponent. In February 2015, he briefly returned to politics as an adviser to Labour leader [[Ed Miliband]].

==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 John Herbert ("Bert")<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jul/16/libbybrooks | title=Prescott's father explains family feud | newspaper=The Guardian | date=16 July 1999 | last1=Brooks | first1=Libby }}</ref> Prescott<ref>Prezza- My Story: Pulling No Punches, John Prescott, Headline Review, 2008, p. 8</ref><ref name="theguardian.com"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/positive-force-good-2944156 | title=She was a positive force for good | date=24 April 2003 }}</ref> and Phyllis, {{Nee|Parrish}}.<ref>Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 2019, Debrett's Ltd, 2020, p. 4034</ref> Prescott's father was a [[railway signalman]], [[Magistrate (England and Wales)|Justice of the Peace]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/aug/20/localgovernment.politics | title=The Guardian profile: John Prescott | newspaper=The Guardian | date=19 August 2004 | last1=White | first1=Michael }}</ref> and Labour councillor. 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&nbsp;... 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]], Rotherham, 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>

Prescott became a steward and waiter in the [[Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)|Merchant Navy]], working for [[Cunard]], and was a left-wing union activist.<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 |date=31 January 2007}}</ref><ref name="prescott_eden">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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 a former prime minister, [[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==
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, and defeating the Conservative challenger [[Norman Lamont]]. He had previously 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 Hattersley was re-elected 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 was a candidate in the [[1994 Labour Party leadership election|party leadership election]] that followed the death of leader [[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==
[[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]]

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 attended various Heads of Government meetings on behalf of 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 |date=16 May 2005}}</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 [[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]].{{citation needed|date=November 2024}} In July 2001 an Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) was created to administer the areas remaining under his responsibility.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04023.pdf |title=The office of Deputy Prime Minister |publisher=House of Commons Library|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619223108/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-04023.pdf|archive-date=19 June 2006 |id=SN/PC/04023|date=22 May 2006|first=Oonagh|last=Gay}}</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.<ref>{{cite report|title=Fifth report: DEPARTMENTAL ANNUAL REPORT AND ESTIMATES 2002|publisher=House of Commons, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Housing, Planning, Local Government and the Regions | date=11 March 2003 | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmodpm/78/7803.htm}}</ref>

===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|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 (United Kingdom)|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&nbsp;August 1999, Prescott made regulations banning the use of [[chrysotile]] asbestos, which resulted in a complete [[Asbestos and the law|ban on the use]] of any products containing [[asbestos]] 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 |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125070146/http://www.britishasbestosnewsletter.org/ban36.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====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=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 press release|url=http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/20020606000126.html |title=Transport policy fails the Prescott test |publisher=Friends of the Earth|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109101449/http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/press_releases/20020606000126.html |archive-date=9 January 2009 |date=6 June 2002}}</ref>

Prescott successfully focused attention on the role of car usage in the bigger environmental picture, and the need for effective public transport alternatives if car volume was 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=https://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 was 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====
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.<ref name=rm /> Reluctantly, he supported the alternative policy, produced by 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.<ref name=rm>{{cite web |url=https://www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/6610/the-great-railway-debate-should-britains-railways-be-re-nationalised-yes-or-no-2/ |title=The Great Railway Debate: Should Britain's railways be re-nationalised |work=Railway Magazine|first=Sam|last=Hewitt|date=11 September 2018}}</ref>

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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/183627.stm |title=Trains a 'national disgrace' |date=1 October 1998 |work=BBC News|access-date=6 May 2016}}</ref> The companies said 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 conference|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=dead |publisher=Centre for the Study of Regulated Industries, University of Bath|conference=Competencia en el Transporte Ferroviari', conference in Madrid|date=16–17 September 2004|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}}</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 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> 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===
Prescott, responsible for local government, 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 was 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 regional government in England.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 1999 |title=Prescott gives strongest backing to regional assemblies |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/prescott-gives-stongest-backing-to-regional-assemblies-25-01-1999/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=Local Government Chronicle}}</ref> 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]], where support was felt to be strongest, was first, in November 2004, but the vote was 78% against, an overwhelming margin,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mulholland |first=Hélène |date=5 November 2004 |title=North-east voters reject regional assembly |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/nov/05/regionalgovernment.politics |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> and the plan for elected regional assemblies was shelved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Nigel |date=9 November 2004 |title=Prescott asked to apologise for referendum |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-asked-to-apologise-for-referendum-8002999.html |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Independent |archive-date=8 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220708052831/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/prescott-asked-to-apologise-for-referendum-8002999.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===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 land|greenfield]]'' areas and as a result he was accused of undermining the [[Green belt (United Kingdom)|Green Belt]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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 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}} List, last entry November 2008.</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===
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===
Prescott, sometimes described as old-school trades unionist, kept in touch with the views of the traditional Labour voters throughout his career.<ref>{{cite news| last=Holton | first=Kate | title=John Prescott: the bridge who connected old and new Labour for UK's Tony Blair | publisher=Reuters | date=21 November 2024 | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/obituary-uks-john-prescott-bridge-who-held-old-new-labour-together-tony-blair-2024-11-21/ }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=John Prescott obituary: Politician who played role in Labour comeback |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7221mz2gldo |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121175733/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7221mz2gldo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Crerar |first=Pippa|date=21 November 2024 |title=How John Prescott used humour and grit to unite old and New Labour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/21/john-prescott-humour-grit-bridge-gap-old-new-labour |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

However, now a member of the establishment, relationships with the [[grass roots]] were not always smooth. Whilst attending the [[Brit Awards]] in 1998, [[Chumbawamba]] member [[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===
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}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4989578.stm |title=Blair outlines new Prescott role |date=17 May 2006 |publisher=[[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 |last=Barnett |first=Antony |date=6 May 2006 |newspaper=The Observer|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 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 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070313002217/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261991,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2007 |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>

===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=https://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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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 Blair announcing the date of his resignation on 10 May 2007, Prescott announced his resignation as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 May 2007 |title=John Prescott to resign as Deputy PM |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1551127/John-Prescott-to-resign-as-Deputy-PM.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Telegraph |archive-date=24 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524004321/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1551127/John-Prescott-to-resign-as-Deputy-PM.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During the subsequent special Labour Party Conference, [[Gordon Brown]] was elected Leader and [[Harriet Harman]] succeeded Prescott as Deputy Leader.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sellman |first1=Mark |last2=Coates |first2=Sam |date=24 June 2007 |title=Harriet Harman elected deputy leader of Labour Party |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/harriet-harman-elected-deputy-leader-of-labour-party-zjc2j63sd66 |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Times}}</ref>

==Life after government==
[[File:John Prescott 2009 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Prescott in 2009]]
Following his resignation from the government, Prescott took 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_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 was unpaid but had an expenses allowance and allowed him to sit on the [[Assembly of the Western European Union]]. He 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>

Prescott stood 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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 |archive-date=20 July 2008|publisher=The Bookseller |title=Have they got books for you|date=9 November 2007|first=Liz|last=Bury}}</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=https://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 called him a "global giant".<ref>{{cite news|date=21 September 2009|title=Prescott: Brown is 'global giant'|work=BBC News|url=https://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>

It was announced on 28 May 2010 that Prescott was to be awarded a [[life peer]]age,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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> 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=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10550850 |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>

Prescott was 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/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|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|publisher=Labour|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001195800/http://www2.labour.org.uk/treasurer-results |archive-date=1 October 2010}}</ref>

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 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>

[[File:Dennis Skinner and John Prescott, 2016 Labour Party Conference.jpg|thumb|[[Dennis Skinner]] and Prescott at the 2016 Labour Party Conference]]

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" />

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>

On 21 February 2015, it was announced Prescott would return to politics as an adviser to Labour leader [[Ed Miliband]]. This was a brief return, as Labour lost the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|imminent general election]].<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><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Prescott: Labour's pugnacious stalwart who pulled no punches |url=https://news.sky.com/story/john-prescott-labours-pugnacious-stalwart-who-pulled-no-punches-12735037 |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=22 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241122053936/https://news.sky.com/story/john-prescott-labours-pugnacious-stalwart-who-pulled-no-punches-12735037 |url-status=live }}</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>

Prescott ceased to be a member of the House of Lords on 9 July 2024 under the [[House of Lords Reform Act 2014]] because of non-attendance in the preceding session of Parliament.<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=Parliament of the United Kingdom |house=House of Lords |title=Retirements of Members and Cessation of Membership |speaker=The Lord Speaker |date=10 July 2024 |volume=839 |column=5–6 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-07-10/debates/90FAD71D-F0C5-43AF-9CE2-A65F2485B3BF/RetirementsOfMembersAndCessationOfMembership}}</ref> He retained his peerage.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=John Prescott: Tony Blair leads tributes to Labour giant |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrdpvrdnddo |access-date=22 November 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===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).<ref>{{cite news|date=9 December 2009|title=John Prescott in Gavin and Stacey|url=https://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 lap in a [[Kia Ceed]].{{efn|Prescott's lap was made in very wet conditions. The slowest lap time, made by [[Damian Lewis]], was in heavy snow, which 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dowell |first=Ben |date=25 February 2011 |title=Jeremy Clarkson and John Prescott trade barbs on Top Gear |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/feb/25/top-gear-jeremy-clarkson-john-prescott |access-date=22 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wightwick |first=Abbie |date=29 November 2009 |title=John Prescott chokes backs tears after Welsh secret revealed |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/john-prescott-chokes-backs-tears-2072966 |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=Wales Online}}</ref> 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>

In April 2015, Prescott appeared as a guest on the television [[panel game|panel show]] ''[[Have I Got News For You]]''. During the episode he had a "pretty heated" interaction with team captain [[Ian Hislop]].<ref>{{citation|title=Ian Hislop versus John Prescott – Have I Got News For You|language=en|work=British Comedy Guide|access-date=22 November 2024|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/hignfy/videos/9153/ian_hislop_versus_john_prescott/}}</ref>

In 2019, Prescott hosted the television series ''Made in Yorkshire''<ref>{{cite web |title=Working with John Prescott on "Made in Yorkshire" |url=https://www.engine7.co.uk/made-in-yorkshire/ |website=Engine 7 |access-date=26 November 2024 |date=21 February 2018}}</ref> (also known as ''Made in Britain: Yorkshire'') for Channel 5,<ref>{{cite web |title=Made in Britain: Yorkshire |url=https://www.channel5.com/show/made-in-yorkshire |website=[[My5]] |access-date=26 November 2024}}</ref> in which he 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>

==Public profile==
Prescott gained a reputation in the press for confused speech, mangled syntax and poor grammar.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 May 2008 |title=FactCheck: Prezza pulls his punches? |url=http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/domestic_politics/factcheck+prezza+pulls+his+punches/2265407 |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 |access-date=28 November 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 |date=28 April 2006 |title=John Prescott: An Upstanding Member of UK PLC |url=http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/hi/tft/politics/002023.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526102315/http://www.thefridayproject.co.uk/hi/tft/politics/002023.php |archive-date=26 May 2006 |access-date=23 February 2014 |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-200103302">{{cite news |last=Davies |first=Liz |date=30 March 2001 |title=The odd couple |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/mar/30/labour.bookextracts |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 |access-date=16 June 2014 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

The media attached various [[sobriquet]]s to Prescott during his political career. Originally, Prescott's nickname was "Prezza",<ref>{{cite news |last=Smyth |first=Chris |date=9 July 2006 |title=Prezza's big gamble on Dome billionaire |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2261946,00.html |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 |work=The Times |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 |date=27 July 2001 |title='Two Jags' Prescott in parking row |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1459928.stm |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 |access-date=23 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Prescott owned 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 name=jab>{{cite news |date=16 May 2001 |title=Prescott punches protester |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/16/newsid_4098000/4098929.stm |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 |access-date=23 February 2014 |work=On This Day |publisher=BBC}}</ref> following his retaliation against a protester farmer in 2001, and "Two Shacks",<ref>{{cite news |last=Weaver |first=Matthew |date=1 June 2006 |title='Two Shacks' Prescott |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/labour.uk |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 |access-date=1 October 2008 |work=The Guardian |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 |last=Hughes |first=A.&nbsp;K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_AHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA43 |title=A History of Political Scandals: Sex, Sleaze and Spin |date=6 November 2013 |publisher=Pen & Sword History |isbn=978-1-84468-089-4 |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 |last=Adams |first=Guy |date=24 May 2006 |title=Another sacked minister holds on to his residence |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/columnists/pandora/another-sacked-minister-holds-on-to-his-residence-479446.html |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 |access-date=19 February 2014 |work=The Independent |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 |date=9 June 2015 |title='Two bans' Prescott caught speeding |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref> Motoring enthusiast and frontman for [[Jamiroquai]], [[Jay Kay]], himself known for speeding violations, said in a 2000 TV interview that Prescott had "about as much class as a [[British Rail]] sandwich".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSYDUxYNLlA |title=Jay Kay interview at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2000 |date=2019-01-22 |last=G Mann |access-date=2025-06-12 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

==='Prescott punch'===
{{Main|Prescott punch}}

During the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 election campaign]], Prescott was campaigning in [[Rhyl]], [[Denbighshire]], when Craig Evans threw an egg at him. Prescott, a former [[amateur boxer]], responded immediately with a left [[jab]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Colin |title=The truth about Prescott and that punch |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/truth-about-prescott-and-punch-8722563.html |access-date=6 May 2021 |work=The Independent |date=20 July 2013 |language=en |archive-date=5 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505204039/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/truth-about-prescott-and-punch-8722563.html |url-status=live }}</ref> punch to the jaw.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 May 2001 |title=Prescott sees red |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335033.stm |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 |access-date=24 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=17 May 2001 |title=Prescott 'regrets' blow |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/news/vote2001/hi/english/newsid_1335000/1335107.stm |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 |access-date=24 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</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 |date=10 May 2007 |title=In Pictures: John Prescott |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6634855.stm |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 |access-date=29 April 2010 |work=BBC News}}</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 |date=9 January 2003 |title=NOP poll and Sunday Times analysis |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/jan/09/newmedia.polls |access-date=30 April 2006 |newspaper=The Guardian |publisher=UKPOL}}</ref><ref name="picorir2">{{cite news |last=Perkins |first=Anne |date=21 September 2001 |title=Prescott in clear over rumble in Rhyl |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2001/sep/21/uk.labour |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 |access-date=11 December 2016 |work=The Guardian.}}</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:

{{Blockquote|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<ref name="topgear">{{cite episode |title=Series 16, Episode 6 |series=[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]] |date=27 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/obituary-uks-john-prescott-bridge-who-held-old-new-labour-together-tony-blair-2024-11-21/ |title=Obituary: John Prescott: Bridge who held old and new Labour together |work=Reuters |accessdate=21 November 2024}}</ref>}}

This incident earned Prescott the nickname "Two Jabs", a reference to his existing nickname, "Two Jags".<ref name=jab />

===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 |last=Malvern |first=Jack |date=21 January 2004 |title=Heroes of the Empire fight to stay rent-free |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article999709.ece |access-date=28 November 2008 |work=The Times |location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</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 |last=Hencke |first=David |date=18 May 2000 |title=Watchdog overruled. MPs back Prescott over flat rented from union |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/may/18/uk.parliament1 |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 |access-date=28 November 2008 |work=The Guardian |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 |date=12 January 2006 |title=Prescott apologises over tax bill |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4607110.stm |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 |access-date=28 November 2008 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

===Sexual infidelity ===
Prescott came under fire for additional controversies over sexual infidelity.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fenton |first=Ben |date=2 May 2006 |title=Prescott, a bully from a more brutal age |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3624711/Prescott-a-bully-from-a-more-brutal-age.html |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 |access-date=19 February 2014 |work=The Daily Telegraph |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="admit2">{{cite news |date=28 April 2006 |title=Prescott admits affair with aide |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4945170.stm |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 |access-date=19 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</ref> This two-year affair was 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 |date=27 April 2006 |title=Standards question over Prescott |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4950238.stm |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 |access-date=19 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

===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 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 May 2006 |title=Prescott the predator keeps his spoils |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/prescott-the-predator-keeps-his-spoils-vpp77nntzdb |work=The Sunday Times |location=London |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121235248/https://www.thetimes.com/article/prescott-the-predator-keeps-his-spoils-vpp77nntzdb |url-status=live}}</ref>

===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 |date=19 June 2009 |title=Key details: MP expenses claims |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8039273.stm |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 |access-date=19 February 2014 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

=== Other incidents ===
Prescott 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 |title=Prescott declares US ranch stay |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5145400.stm |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 |access-date=18 April 2015 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Helm |first=Toby |title=Prescott met US billionaire seven times |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1523102/Prescott-met-US-billionaire-seven-times.html |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 |access-date=3 April 2018 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hencke |first1=David |last2=Evans |first2=Rob |date=6 July 2006 |title=Lobbying for a casino at the dome: how the deputy PM's officials got involved |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jul/06/uk.gambling |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 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> and questioned over his involvement in the business of his son Johnathan Prescott.<ref>{{cite web |title=Auditors probe Prescott son's house deals |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/politics/64534.stm |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 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Malkin |first1=Bonnie |last2=Copping |first2=Jasper |date=19 August 2006 |title=Prescott is urged to tell all about son's land deals |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1526789/Prescott-is-urged-to-tell-all-about-sons-land-deals.html |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 |access-date=3 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="autogenerated12">{{cite web |date=1 June 2006 |title=Prescott Gives Up Dorneywood Home |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641223370?f=rss |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 |publisher=News.sky.com}}</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 |date=1 June 2006 |title=Critics welcome Dorneywood move |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5035506.stm |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 |access-date=18 April 2015 |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 |last=White |first=Michael |date=1 June 2006 |title=Prescott: I was wrong to hold on to Dorneywood |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.topstories3 |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 |access-date=11 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=White |first=Michael |date=1 June 2006 |title='I'm not a saint. I'm not a forever sinner ... and I'm not unique' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jun/01/uk.labour |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 |access-date=11 December 2016 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Personal life, illness and death==
Prescott married Pauline Tilston in 1961. They had two sons. 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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. Tilston had already had a son by an [[United States Air Force|American airman]] in the 1950s, whom she gave up for adoption.<ref name="Pauline" /> In an episode of ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'' broadcast in February 2012, Prescott said he acknowledged Pauline's first son as part of his family, a third son.<ref>{{cite AV media |date=19 February 2012 |format=Radio program |title=Desert Island Discs – Lord Prescott |work=[[BBC Sounds]] |people=Buckle, Leanne (producer) |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01c6trm |archive-date=21 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121085119/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01c6trm |access-date=2 August 2024 |via=www.bbc.co.uk }}</ref>

Prescott disclosed in 2002 that he had been 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=dead |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><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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> He was briefly hospitalised in June 2007,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://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> diagnosed with [[pneumonia]], and treated at [[University College Hospital]], London.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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><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 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=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/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]] in June 2019 after 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=Hull 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|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241121084034/https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/lord-john-prescott-labour-stroke-3757570|archive-date=21 November 2024|url-status=live|access-date=6 July 2021|website=[[Hull Daily Mail|HullLive]]}}</ref> but spoke in the House of Lords on only one subsequent occasion and last voted in February 2023. He ceased to be a member of the House of Lords in July 2024 due to non-attendance.<ref name="bbc death"/>

Prescott died on 20 November 2024, aged 86; his family said that he had been living in a care home with [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref name="bbc death">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce9gp7eke44t |work=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=21 November 2024 |archive-date=21 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121083334/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce9gp7eke44t |title=Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott dies aged 86 |editor-first1=Dulcie |editor-last1=Lee |editor-first2=Rorey |editor-last2=Bosotti}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 November 2024 |title=John Prescott, British former deputy prime minister, dies aged 86 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/21/john-prescott-death-age-86-former-uk-deputy-prime-minister |access-date=21 November 2024 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |agency=[[PA Media]] |archive-date=21 November 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121083714/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/21/john-prescott-death-age-86-former-uk-deputy-prime-minister |last1=Courea |first1=Eleni }}</ref> Blair and Brown paid tribute, along with incumbent prime minister [[Keir Starmer]] and the deputy prime minister [[Angela Rayner]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=No one was quite like John Prescott, says Tony Blair |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrdpvrdnddo |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121061701/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrdpvrdnddo |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2024 |title=Tony Blair leads tributes to John Prescott after his death aged 86 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/john-prescott-tony-blair-john-lennon-keir-starmer-new-labour-b2651068.html |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121123405/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/john-prescott-tony-blair-john-lennon-keir-starmer-new-labour-b2651068.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gordon Brown pays tribute to 'colossus' John Prescott after his death aged 86 following battle with Alzheimer's |url=https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/gordon-brown-pays-tribute-to-colossus-john-prescott-after-his-death-aged-86-foll/ |access-date=21 November 2024 |website=LBC |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241121092341/https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/gordon-brown-pays-tribute-to-colossus-john-prescott-after-his-death-aged-86-foll/ |url-status=live }}</ref> His funeral took place in [[Hull Minster]] on 30 January 2025.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0e4xexnx4vo|title=Blair praises 'extraordinary' Prescott at funeral|date=30 January 2025|work=BBC News|access-date=30 January 2025}}</ref>

==Publications==
* {{cite book |last=Prescott |first=John |year=2008 |title=Prezza: My Story: Pulling No Punches |url=https://archive.org/details/prezzapullingnop0000pres |url-access=registration |location=London |publisher=Headline Review |isbn=978-0-7553-1775-2 |oclc=212431550}}

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Brown (journalist and author) |year=1997 |title=Fighting Talk: Biography of John Prescott |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=0-684-81798-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Hoggart |first=Simon |author-link=Simon Hoggart |year=2003 |title=Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott |publisher=Pocket Books |isbn=0-7434-8397-9}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|John Prescott}}
* {{Twitter}}
* Parliamentary profile [https://members.parliament.uk/member/374/contact Parliamentary career for Lord Prescott - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament]
{{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 }}
* {{IMDb name | 1649100}}
* {{C-SPAN|36053}}
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4945902.stm BBC Profile], [[BBC News]], 5 May 2006
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2968074.stm "John Prescott's gift of the gaffe"], BBC News, 6 June 2003

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{{Ministers of State for Transport}}{{New Labour}}{{Labour Party (UK)}}
{{1994 Labour Party leadership election}}
{{1994 Labour Party deputy leadership election}}
{{1992 Labour Party deputy leadership election}}
{{1988 Labour Party deputy leadership election}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Prescott, John}}
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