Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott dies aged 86 after Alzheimer's battle

John Prescott has died aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimer's, his family has announced.

The former Deputy Prime Minister's family said he had 'spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment'. He died 'peacefully' and surrounded by relatives at his care home, they said.

The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman was a key figure of Sir Tony Blair's New Labour project, seen by many as custodian of the party's traditional values in the face of a modernising leadership. He was ennobled in 2010 and introduced to the upper chamber as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull having served for four decades as an MP for the city.

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In a statement released after his death, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David said that representing the people of Hull had been 'his greatest honour'.

"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. He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery," they said.

"John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain's longest serving deputy prime minister. John dearly loved his home of Hull and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour.

"We would like to thank the amazing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he passed away