The charismatic deputy prime minister, who has died at the age of 86, was known best for punching a member of the electorate and acting as a vital bridge for Tony Blair to reach the unions

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has died aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s, with Sir Tony Blair leading tributes to him as a “committed and loyal” public servant.Lord Prescott’s family,

John Prescott, Britain's longest-serving deputy prime minister who died on Wednesday, was indispensable to Tony Blair's New Labour government, a working-class trailblazer who connected with the public in ways most politicians cannot.