Wrekin MP who worked with John Prescott pays tribute to former deputy PM
A West Midland MP who worked with John Prescott has paid tribute to the former deputy prime minister.
Mark Pritchard, Conservative MP for The Wrekin, served alongside Lord Prescott on the Council of Europe.
Mr Pritchard said that while he disagreed with the Labour Party veteran on many things, he always found him good fun and said he had given a great deal to the country.
He said: "I was saddened to hear of the passing of John Prescott.
"I always found him friendly, politically astute and had a great sense of humour.
"We disagreed on much, but it was always mutually respectful. He gave much to public service, and his country over many years. May he rest in peace."
Lord Prescott served as Labour MP for Hull East from 1970 to 2010, and was elected as deputy leader of the Labour Party in 1994, having missed out to Tony Blair in the party's leadership election.
A lifelong trade unionist and former member of the Merchant Navy, he was seen by many as a mediator between Labour Party traditionalists and the 'New Labour' wing, epitomised by Blair, Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson.
He was appointed deputy prime minister following Labour's 1997 General Election victory, a post he held until Blair's resignation in 2007. He was also appointed secretary of state for the new 'super department' overseeing the environment, transport and local government,.
He was then appointed as a parliamentary representative on the Council of Europe, where he served alongside Mr Pritchard.
A former Merchant Navy boxing champion, he caused controversy during the 2001 General Election campaign when he punched a farm worker who had thrown an egg at him. There was further scandal in 2006 when it emerged he had an affair with his diary secretary,.
He stood down from parliament at the 2010 General Election, and was ennobled as Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull.
He had a somewhat frosty relationship with the now Lord Mandelson, once likening his cabinet colleague to a crab in a television appearance. But, paying tribute to his former colleague, Lord Mandelson revealed how they had made up during a telephone conversation earlier this year.
Lord Prescott died, aged 86, at a care home in Hull, after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
