John Prescott

Date of Birth: May 31, 1938

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Biography

John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott, commonly known as John Prescott, is a British politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 under Tony Blair. Born into a working-class family, Prescott’s early life was marked by modest circumstances. He initially worked as a ship’s steward and trade union activist before entering politics. Prescott was elected as the Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull East in 1970, a position he held until his retirement in 2010. Known for his robust debating style and passionate advocacy for social justice, Prescott played a key role in the Labour Party’s modernization efforts during the 1990s. His political career was also marked by his commitment to environmental issues and transport policies. After stepping down from active politics, he was awarded a life peerage in 2010, becoming Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull.

5 Interesting Facts about John Prescott

1. John Prescott once punched a protester who threw an egg at him during the 2001 general election campaign.

2. He was instrumental in the development of the UK’s first integrated Transport White Paper in 1998.

3. Prescott is known for his unique speaking style, often characterized by his working-class accent and tendency to mangle sentences, endearingly known as “Prescottisms.”

4. He was diagnosed with diabetes in 1990 but managed it successfully while continuing his political career.

5. Prescott was a fervent advocate for climate change policies and played a significant role in the Kyoto Protocol negotiations.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Prescott

1. “The Green Belt is a Labour achievement, and we mean to build on it.”

2. “There are only two kinds of politics. The politics of fear and the politics of hope.”

3. “I’ll tell you what my position is. I’m in favour of the Green Belt. I’m in favour of proper planning. I’m in favour of developing brownfield sites.”

4. “We are making sure that the people who are least well off, who have the toughest lives, get the help they need.”

5. “There is no greater challenge facing the world today than climate change.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, John Prescott’s net worth was estimated to be around £1 million.

Children

John Prescott has two sons, David Prescott and Jonathan Prescott. David followed his father into politics and has worked as a Labour Party advisor, while Jonathan has pursued a career outside of the political sphere.