The UK's longest serving deputy prime minister John Prescott has died at the age of 86.
The former trade union activist and Labour MP was a key figure in Tony Blair's New Labour.
Lord Prescott had been sick Alzheimer's, and he died peacefully surrounded by his family, his relatives have said.
In a statement following his death, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David said that representing the people of Hull had been his "greatest honour".
They said: "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.
"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."
Lord Prescott's family also thanked the NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him.
In lieu of flowers, they asked people to make donations to Alzheimer's Research UK.
Sir Tony Blair said he was "devastated" to hear of Lord Prescott's death and described the former deputy PM as "one of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics" who could "talk in the bluntest and sometimes bluest language".
"He was from proud traditional working-class stock yet understood instinctively and completely the aspirations of that class and their desire to better themselves," he said.
"It is no exaggeration to say the Labour Party could never have won three consecutive full terms without John."
While he served under Blair, Lord Prescott later became critical of New Labour's legacy.
He denounced Britain's involvement in the Iraq War and defended Jeremy Corbyn during his time as Labour's leader.
Reporting by IRN.
Featured image: Lord Prescott (John Prescott) former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and Mansfield Labour candidate Sir Alan Meale campaign speaking at a rally, 2/06/2017 , Alan Beastall/Alamy Live News
