John Prescott, who died aged 86 on Wednesday following a battle with Alzheimer’s, was a key figure in Labour’s return from 18 years in opposition in 1997 to a spell in government longer than any the party had previously achieved, first under Tony Blair and then Gordon Brown.
At a time when Sir Tony had pitched the party to the centre with a New Labour rebranding, Lord Prescott was able to keep the party in touch with its working class roots – the man born in Prestatyn in north Wales had worked as a cook and steward on the Cunard line before entering Parliament.
