Gordon Brown and Tony Blair pay tribute to Lord Prescott at his funeral, celebrating his legacy as a working-class hero and dedicated public servant.
Hull: Former Labour leaders Gordon Brown and Sir Tony Blair led tributes to Lord Prescott at his funeral. They remembered him as a “working-class hero.” He served as the UK’s longest-serving deputy prime minister and passed away at 86 after battling Alzheimer’s.
The funeral featured a Jaguar hearse, a nod to his nickname “two Jags.” Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner also spoke, honoring the Labour stalwart. They shared heartfelt memories as former cabinet ministers and current MPs said their goodbyes.
Both Tony and Gordon spoke at Hull Minster, where Prescott served as an MP for 40 years. Gordon praised his life, saying it “touched the lives of millions.” He called Prescott a true man of the people, who kept things running during tough times.
Gordon shared a light moment about Prescott’s cameo in “Gavin and Stacey.” He also recalled the famous egg-throwing incident, highlighting Prescott’s connection with everyday people. He believed in the goodness of everyone, even the egg-thrower.
Sir Tony shared stories about the chaos after the egg incident during the 2001 election. He recalled calling Prescott to ask him to apologize, but Prescott firmly refused. Tony said he recently watched the footage and found himself cheering for Prescott.
He emphasized Prescott’s significant role in government and their friendship. He hoped the gathering showed recognition for Prescott’s journey from a small Welsh town to high office through hard work and courage.
One of Prescott’s sons, David, spoke about his father’s life of overcoming challenges. He thanked the care staff who looked after Prescott in his final days. The family requested donations for Alzheimer’s Research UK instead of flowers.
After the service, mourners gathered at Prescott’s favorite Chinese restaurant in Hull to celebrate his life.
