John Prescott

John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott (31 May 1938 – 20 November 2024) was a British Labour politician. He was born in Prestatyn, Wales. He grew up in Brinsworth, Yorkshire and Upton by Chester. He served as Deputy Prime Minister when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. He started out as a shop worker and was often considered to be the "most working class member of the Labour cabinet". Whilst campaigning for the 2001 election, he punched a man who threw an egg at him. He has diabetes mellitus type 2 and had bulimia nervosa throughout his political career.

The Right Honourable The Lord Prescott
Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
In office 2 May 1997 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Michael Heseltine
Succeeded by	Nick Clegg (2010)
First Secretary of State
In office 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Michael Heseltine (1997)
Succeeded by	The Lord Mandelson (2009)
Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions
In office 2 May 1997 – 8 June 2001
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	John Gummer (Environment) George Young (Transport)
Succeeded by	Margaret Beckett (Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) Stephen Byers (Transport, Local Government and the Regions)
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
In office 21 July 1994 – 24 June 2007
Leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Margaret Beckett
Succeeded by	Harriet Harman
Shadow Cabinet positions Shadow Secretary of State for Employment In office 21 October 1993 – 21 July 1994 Leader John Smith Margaret Beckett (Acting) Shadowing David Hunt Michael Portillo Preceded by Frank Dobson Succeeded by Harriet Harman In office 26 October 1984 – 13 July 1987 Leader Neil Kinnock Shadowing Tom King Lord Young of Graffham Norman Fowler Preceded by John Smith Succeeded by Michael Meacher Shadow Secretary of State for Transport In office 23 November 1988 – 21 October 1993 Leader Neil Kinnock John Smith Shadowing Paul Channon Cecil Parkinson Malcolm Rifkind John MacGregor Preceded by Robert Hughes Succeeded by Frank Dobson In office 31 October 1983 – 26 October 1984 Leader Neil Kinnock Preceded by Albert Booth Succeeded by Gwyneth Dunwoody Shadow Secretary of State for Energy In office 13 July 1987 – 23 November 1988 Leader Neil Kinnock Shadowing Cecil Parkinson Preceded by Stanley Orme Succeeded by Tony Blair
Member of Parliament for Hull East
In office 19 June 1970 – 12 April 2010
Preceded by	Harry Pursey
Succeeded by	Karl Turner
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 July 2010 Life Peerage
Personal details
Born	John Leslie Prescott (1938-05-31)31 May 1938 Prestatyn, Flintshire, Wales
Died	20 November 2024(2024-11-20) (aged 86)
Political party	Labour
Spouse(s)	Pauline Tilston ​ (m. 1961)​
Children	2
Education	Ruskin College
Alma mater	University of Hull
a. ^ Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 11 May 2010. b. ^ Office vacant from 2 May 1997 to 8 June 2001. c. ^ Office vacant from 27 June 2007 to 5 June 2009.

Prescott died on 20 November 2024 from problems caused by Alzheimer's disease, aged 86.

Other websites

• john-prescott.labourhome.org Archived 2008-08-01 at the Wayback Machine – Prescott's political blog
• Archive copy at the Internet Archive – profile at 10 Downing Street website
• John Prescott BBC Profile