LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) – Here are key facts about John Prescott, Britain’s combative former deputy prime minister, who died after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, according to his family on Thursday:
- At 86, Prescott served as deputy prime minister in Tony Blair’s Labour government from 1997 to 2007 and received a peerage in 2010.
- Born in Wales to a railway signalman and a domestic helper, he fiercely defended his working-class roots. He went to sea at 17 as a steward on a luxury cruise ship, where he boxed to entertain passengers.
- Prescott entered parliament in 1970 and became deputy leader of Labour in 1994. He effectively bridged the gap between the figureheads of Blair’s revamped “New Labour” and the traditionalists of Labour’s grassroots. He also acted as a peace broker in the tense relationship between Blair and his future successor, then-Chancellor Gordon Brown.
- The media and opponents often mocked Prescott for his lack of oratory skills. He frequently mispronounced words or made grammatical mistakes, prompting sketch writers to cruelly suggest his speeches would make as much sense played backwards.
- During the 2001 election campaign, he responded to a man who threw an egg at him by aiming a left jab, living up to his image as a bare-knuckle politician of the old school. The media nicknamed him “Two Jags” for owning two luxury Jaguar cars.
- In April 2006, Prescott admitted to a long extra-marital affair with his diary secretary, Tracey Temple, who was 24 years his junior. The affair, which involved sex sessions in his office, led several women to accuse him of sexist behavior. Despite the scandal, his wife Pauline stood by him.
- In July 2006, parliament launched a full investigation into his contacts with American billionaire Philip Anschutz, who hoped to open a large casino at the Millennium Dome in London. Prescott met Anschutz several times and even stayed at his ranch. Police later concluded that Prescott would not face prosecution.
