Tributes have been paid to John Prescott following his death at the age of 86.
The Labour politician was Deputy Prime Minister from 1997-2007, and Environment, Transport and the Regions Secretary in Tony Blair’s first Labour government from 1997-2001. He was made a member of the House of Lords in 2010.
His family announced his death shortly before 6am on Thursday, saying: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86,” adding that he suffered a stroke in 2019 and had latterly been living with Alzheimer’s.
Prescott was born in 1938, in Prestatyn, North Wales. His father was a signalman. In 1970 he became the Labour MP for Hull East, holding the seat for 40 years.
In the early 1990s he opposed Conservative plans to privatise the railway, and disagreeing with Labour’s decision not to renationalise after winning the 1997 general election.
Despite that he became the minister responsible for transport. In 1998 his department published a White Paper called A New Deal for Transport Better for Everyone, in a bid to create a more integrated system.
This was followed by Transport 2010: The 10 Year Plan, published in 2000. It included plans for 25 new ‘rapid transit’ light rail routes, and a 50% growth in rail passengers by 2020.
The plans fell apart, although the 1998 White Paper resulted in the creation of the Strategic Rail Authority, designed to provide direction for the industry. It existed from 2001-2006.
James Gleave, Transport Strategy Manager at Transport for the South East, referenced Prescott’s comments from 1997 when he said: “I will have failed in five years’ time if there are not many more people using public transport and far fewer journeys by car. It's a tall order, but I urge you to hold me to it."
Paying tribute, Gleave said: “To have that scale of ambition again would be quite something. Just to make it clear what the challenge is, an Integrated Transport Strategy is expected from the Government. It will be the first such document since the 10 Year Plan.”
During his time in charge of transport, Prescott also signed off on the Transport and Works Order in 1999 for the reconstruction of the Welsh Highland Railway all the way from Caernarfon to Porthmadog.
On social media, LNER’s Managing Director, David Horne recalled a story involving Prescott.
“He was very friendly, engaging, always had a story and of course was passionate about his beloved city of Hull,” he said.
“In 2016, he had the idea that we should celebrate Hull with a special livery on the InterCity 125 HST which we used on our Hull-King’s Cross services. He wouldn’t let the idea go and that is how we ended up with ‘It’s never dull in Hull’ on the side of one of our HSTs.”
A Hull Trains also paid tribute. A statement said: “It is with a heavy heart that we offer our condolences to the family of Lord John Prescott, a very regular traveller with us and true son of Hull.
“Lord Prescott was instrumental in our initial establishment and championed us throughout his travels. He was a pleasure to have on board and will be very much missed.”
David Ward, councillor for Tenterden in Kent, said the ’15 million users of HS1 have John Prescott to thank’ for their journeys.
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