Former and current Prime Ministers paid heartfelt tributes to the “working class hero,” John Prescott, at his funeral today. The longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister in UK history made his final journey in a procession of two Jaguars.
The two Jags on the hearse was a reference to the ex-Deputy PM who was dubbed “two Jags” by the press after he was driven around in two Jaguar cars. The move saw Prescott have a final chuckle about his nickname while in office.
Alastair Campbell, the former director of communications at No 10, played the Welsh National anthem on the bagpipes as the coffin was carried into Hull Minster, reports the Mirror.
Sir Keir Starmer, Tony Blair, and Gordon Brown joined John’s widow, Lady Pauline, 82, and their sons Jonathan and David to share cherished memories of a man who helped shape modern Labour.
A congregation of party dignitaries past and present heard how he was famous for punching a “voter with a mullet,” referring to when Prescott punched a protester during a visit to North Wales in 2001.
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Aside from that, Prescott had spent his life standing up for the ‘common man’ and the people of Hull, where he served as MP for nearly 40 years, the congregation heard..
Blair wanted to celebrate the lives of ‘John the man’ and Pauline, “his rock and an extraordinary person in her own right”. The pair were married for 63 years.
“I will miss him, you will miss him, I hope John is looking down on us all already even while in negotiation with St Peter about accommodation,” Blair said.
On Prescott, who rose from a Welsh village to achieve political greatness through “hard work and character,” Blair added: “I hoped that he has found the peace he deserved.”
Gordon Brown delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late politician, who looked at wife Pauline as his “rock” who weathered the toughest storms with him and whom he was proud to have by his side.
Brown lauded John’s desire for the best for everyone, noting his politeness despite a tough exterior.
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“He went from Cabin steward to the Cabinet,” Gordon explained. “He wanted for everyone what he wanted for his own family, which was the good things in life. For the many, and not just the few.”
Brown acknowledged John’s unique place in history, saying to those gathered: “A man of the people he certainly was, in a class by himself, a one-off. One of a kind but one of us, in the best sense of the word.”
Brown praised John’s ability to resonate with the public, referencing his cameo on Gavin And Stacey as Nessa’s rejected suitor and his connection with people everywhere, including during the incident in Rhyl.
“John could connect with people, and I don’t just mean that man in Rhyl who dared to hurl an egg at him,” Brown joked. “The John you saw in Hull and the John you saw at home was the John you saw in Downing Street.”
Brown emphasised John’s courage in standing up for his beliefs and serving the people.
As Madeline Bell’s ‘How Much Do I Love You?’ played, attendees were moved by a touching montage of John’s early life displayed on a large screen.
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Prescott started his career on cruise ship kitchens, survived health battles including dyslexia, bulimia, and diabetes, and never forgot his Welsh identity.
The late politician’s son David, 53, spoke movingly in his eulogy: “He was a man who spent his life overcoming challenges and helping others.”
He honoured him as the “bolshy ex-waiter” whose influence grew to hold high political office, expressing gratitude to the nursing home staff that cared for him during his final days before he passed away aged 86 in November.
David concluded his heartfelt tribute by quoting his father’s 1968 address to the East Hull Labour Party when standing for election as MP, noting: “John always had the last word”.
The memorable conclusion went: “Comrades, I hope I can help.”
David poignantly added: “You did dad, you did.”
As the ceremony drew to a close, Prescott’s coffin departed to the strains of Irving Berlin’s ‘Always’, with mourners then proceeding to John’s beloved Chinese restaurant to continue the wake.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, shared: “He was quite amazing. I saw him once with the bonnet of the Jag up as it needed repair. He said ‘All right comrade.’ He changed this country for the better.”
Reflecting on his legacy, Lord Prescott once said about “the time I thumped that bloke”
He said: “People won’t remember me for my 40 years in parliament.”
Instead, he believed, “I’ll be remembered for that 40 seconds of my life.”
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