John Prescott has died

[Snow1964]

Just announced that John Prescott, former deputy prime minister in the Labour Government has died age 86

He was former merchant navy, and as a politician tried to help the railways and UK shipping

RIP

 

[adc82140]

Sad to hear this. I didn't always agree with his politics, but when he was on the Channel 5 canal barging series he seemed to be a thoroughly decent man.

 

[BazingaTribe]

Sad to see him go -- his honesty and deep roots in the labour movement will definitely be missed. He could hold his own with anyone and that Top Gear interview was legendary in terms of his relationship to transport.

 

[Killingworth]

Early in his Parliamentary career as MP for East Hull he caused some controversy in that city by calling for negotiations rather than confrontation during the Cod Wars with Iceland. At the time Hull was one of Britain's biggest fishing ports with many in Hull relying for incomes on deep sea cod fishing.

Hull West was the home of the fish docks aliong the Hessle Road, with trawlermen and associated trades in processing. East Hull held the big commercial docks with merchant seamen and dockers. Those living elsewhere found it strange that a Hull MP was for accepting terms offered early in the conflict. Subsequent events rather confirm he was right and the fish trade would have survived longer if they had been.

He was also an early MEP in the 1970s before they were directly elected. I encountered him a few times.back then and can confirm he was a really nice down to earth guy.

 

[AlterEgo]

More publicity for Jaguar this week!

They don’t make them like that any more. Jaguars - and chancellors. RIP.

 

[507021]

More publicity for Jaguar this week!

They don’t make them like that any more. Jaguars - and chancellors. RIP.

Gordon's alive.

Can't add anything to what's already been posted by others, sad news indeed. RIP.

 

[Ashley Hill]

A man of character unlike today’s here today/gone tomorrow MPs. RIP.

 

[DarloRich]

An authentic working class politician, a decent man who was routinely patronised by upper crust Tories (one of them used to ask him for a gin and tonic when they saw him) for his background yet someone who rose to the top of the Labour party and was crucial in modernising the party and helping them win the 97 election, act as deputy PM in government for 10 years and act as a bridge between Labour and unions to keep the new labour project moving.

He was also a serious campaigner, direct communicator, debater and fighter for improving lives - we could do with someone like that now to take on the populist chancers

Decent left as well! Sadly that is what he will be mostly remembered for.

 

[Gloster]

I always thought that his reaction in Rhyl probably met with a lot of sympathy from the public. No cheesy grin, clever quip or consultation with the spin doctors, just a perfectly normal reaction when someone eggs you.

It was said that with many politicians they produced beautifully elegant sentences, but you couldn’t work out what they meant. With Prescott the words often came out mangled, but you knew what he meant.

RIP an honest man.

 

[Halwynd]

An authentic working class politician, a decent man who was routinely patronised by upper crust Tories (one of them used to ask him for a gin and tonic when they saw him) for his background yet someone who rose to the top of the Labour party and was crucial in modernising the party and helping them win the 97 election, act as deputy PM in government for 10 years and act as a bridge between Labour and unions to keep the new labour project moving.

He was also a serious campaigner, direct communicator, debater and fighter for improving lives - we could do with someone like that now to take on the populist chancers

Decent left as well! Sadly that is what he will be mostly remembered for.

To be honest, having met a handful of upper crust Tories through work, without exception I found them to be what you might call perfect gentlemen; polite, courteous, respectful, and with impeccable manners.

I suspect those who patronised Prescott were the Tory 'middle' classes, some of whom really are quite obnoxious.

I did warm to John Prescott, he spoke his mind and didn't much care what others thought. Anyone in politics who is like this, and who has a backbone, whatever their politics, gets a tick from me. When he chinned the chap in Wales, I thought, yes, good on you. Heckling is fine, throwing eggs at anyone is just not on.

 

[Vinnym]

Not too many like him in the Labour Party nowadays, unfortunately.

 

[185]

Many a chat with him over the years. Thoroughly decent chap, stood up for the workers - hated by the dirty Tory red tops.

 

[BazingaTribe]

To be honest, having met a handful of upper crust Tories through work, without exception I found them to be what you might call perfect gentlemen; polite, courteous, respectful, and with impeccable manners.

I suspect those who patronised Prescott were the Tory 'middle' classes, some of whom really are quite obnoxious.

I did warm to John Prescott, he spoke his mind and didn't much care what others thought. Anyone in politics who is like this, and who has a backbone, whatever their politics, gets a tick from me. When he chinned the chap in Wales, I thought, yes, good on you. Heckling is fine, throwing eggs at anyone is just not on.

I met Boris Johnson a few times, once over dinner, and he's on my nerdy, esoteric wavelength, so we had some interesting chats. I wouldn't vote for him ever again, but if he invited me to discuss obscure Russian dissidents I'd be up for it.

I don't think that punch hurt JP at all, unlike the Two Jags incident. I think things like that -- like Paddy Ashdown being revealed to be having an affair -- just make people look like they are actually human. It's the financial diddlings that go on, Partygate shenanigans during a major global crisis or people preaching sanctimonious 'back to basics' twaddle in public but get caught out that are the real problems with how politicians act. The thing about Prescott was that what you saw was what you got, and there are not enough people like that any more.

 

[Thirteen]

I was surprised to learn he was 86 when he died.

 

[GusB]

I was surprised to learn he was 86 when he died.

I hadn't realised he was quite that old, either. Then again, I was only 22 when the Blair government came to power and I turned 50 this year, so it's hardly surprising that the Labour cohort from that era is getting on a bit. Where has the time gone?!

I liked John Prescott and he'll be sadly missed. If his hearse isn't a Jag, I'll be sorely disappointed!

 

[BazingaTribe]

I was surprised to learn he was 86 when he died.

I knew he was fairly old when in government so it surprised me he was only 86. But then again I was only 17 when the Blair government came into power (just missed the chance to vote!) so everyone was old.

 

[brad465]

I initially thought he'll be pleased he at least got to see Labour return to power before dying, however given he was living with Alzheimer's it's possible he had no recollection of it.

 

[3141]

I always thought that his reaction in Rhyl probably met with a lot of sympathy from the public. No cheesy grin, clever quip or consultation with the spin doctors, just a perfectly normal reaction when someone eggs you.

It was said that with many politicians they produced beautifully elegant sentences, but you couldn’t work out what they meant. With Prescott the words often came out mangled, but you knew what he meant.

RIP an honest man.

In Adrian Shooter's book about Chiltern Railways, he describes Prescott as a "big supporter" and says: "He often came across like a grumpy trade union official but that masked a very sharp intellect, albeit that his speech apparatus could not keep up with his brain. The result was that half sentences just got dropped which made following what he was saying a little challenging at times."

 

[Sun Chariot]

I hadn't realised he was quite that old, either. Then again, I was only 22 when the Blair government came to power and I turned 50 this year, so it's hardly surprising that the Labour cohort from that era is getting on a bit. Where has the time gone?!

I can just remember Jimmy Carter being the US President. Astonishingly, he is still with us.

 

[Rover]

A great parliamentarian came across as a really decent guy. Got his words mixed up now and again, I remember him talking to the media having come back form a climate conference in Japan and was asked how he was he said "it's good to be back on terra cotta".

 

[Trackman]

Just watched Top Gear where he is 'A star in a reasonably priced car' again on you-tube, it's brilliant, he tried to take over the show! Just showed you what kind of guy he was.
RIP 2 Jags.