Lord Prescott has died aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimers.
Cllr Di Keal mentioned: “I used to be very a lot saddened to listen to as we speak of the demise of John Prescott. I met him when he took the difficulty to go to Norton in the course of the devastating 2000 floods.
“His go to performed an important half in our marketing campaign for the flood defences for Malton, Norton and Previous Malton.
“There was a number of anger round and he was given fairly a tough time by individuals who had been flooded out of their properties and companies for the second time in two years. However he took it in his stride and listened and noticed for himself the massive influence the flooding had in town and the distress we have been dealing with.
“It was a large battle to win the marketing campaign for the £10.3million flood defences to be constructed and his go to was vital step in making it occur.”
Lord Prescott’s household, who introduced his demise, mentioned he had “spent his life attempting to enhance the lives of others, combating for social justice and defending the atmosphere”.
The previous commerce union activist and ex-merchant seaman died “peacefully” and surrounded by family at his care house, they mentioned.
Former prime minister Sir Tony mentioned he was “devastated” by Lord Prescott’s demise, including: “He was one of the gifted individuals I ever encountered in politics; one of the dedicated and dependable; and positively probably the most uncommon.”
Sir Tony continued: “He’ll deservedly occupy a particular place within the pantheon of the Labour management; he will probably be mourned by his many pals and followers all over the world and for me personally, as we speak is a day of profound unhappiness but additionally immense delight in having identified him and labored with him: an excellent man and nice servant of nation and social gathering.”
His successor, Gordon Brown, mentioned “former boxer” Lord Prescott was “key to holding the ring and retaining issues collectively throughout troublesome occasions resembling over Iraq”.
He added: “John Lennon mentioned the the working class hero is a troublesome factor to be, however I believe John could be simply effective with being remembered that approach. He needed the nice issues in life for everybody and never simply himself. And he confirmed that Britain is usually a nation the place for those who work exhausting you possibly can fill your potential.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer mentioned Lord Prescott was a “true large of the Labour motion” and one of many “key architects” of the final Labour authorities.
Lord Prescott ceased to be a member of the higher Home in July this yr after dealing with well being difficulties.
He had solely spoken as soon as within the chamber since struggling a stroke in 2019, official data present, and had not voted since February 2023.
Over a parliamentary profession spanning greater than half a century, Lord Prescott served for 10 years as deputy prime minister after Labour’s 1997 basic election landslide.
At occasions short-tempered, he as soon as famously punched a protester who threw an egg at him throughout an election marketing campaign go to to North Wales in 2001.
However throughout a lot of his time in workplace, he acted as a mediator within the typically turbulent relationship between Sir Tony and chancellor Gordon Brown.
He additionally oversaw the atmosphere, transport and the areas, a short which included serving to to barter the worldwide Kyoto Protocol on local weather change.
Lord Prescott was a loyal supporter of Sir Tony in workplace however subsequently crucial of components of New Labour’s legacy, denouncing Britain’s involvement within the Iraq Battle.
He additionally strongly defended Jeremy Corbyn throughout his time as social gathering chief within the face of fierce criticism.
Born in Prestatyn, Wales, on Could 31 1938, the son of a railwayman, Lord Prescott left college on the age of 15 to work as a trainee chef after which as a steward on the Cunard Line earlier than getting into politics.
In a personal letter in 2007, Sir Tony mentioned his former deputy’s function “smoothing out issues, finding out colleagues and trouble-shooting” had been an “integral a part of getting issues performed”.
The previous prime minister mentioned: “The fully distinctive Prescott mix of allure and brutality – made at all times more practical by the unpredictability of which might be predominant – received you thru the last decade, saved the federal government collectively and above all, gave me a number of enjoyable. I used to be fortunate to have you ever as my deputy.”
