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Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke | Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke |
(30 minutes later) | |
Former deputy prime minister and Labour veteran John Prescott has been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke, his family has said. | Former deputy prime minister and Labour veteran John Prescott has been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke, his family has said. |
A statement on the 81-year-old's Twitter account said he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary on Friday. | A statement on the 81-year-old's Twitter account said he was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary on Friday. |
The family praised the "swift actions" of the paramedics and the staff at the hospital's A&E stroke unit. | |
Ex-PM Tony Blair said his thoughts were with Lord Prescott, adding: "Hoping very much that he gets better soon." | |
A statement from the family of Lord Prescott said the hospital staff had been "remarkable and we cannot thank them enough". | |
"He is receiving excellent care from the NHS," they said. | |
A former trade union activist, Lord Prescott entered Parliament in 1970 as Labour MP for Hull East and went on to hold the seat for almost 40 years. | |
He became a Labour frontbench spokesman in 1979 and joined the shadow cabinet in 1983, with responsibility for transport. | |
He served as deputy to former Prime Minister Tony Blair for 10 years between 1997 and 2007, and received a peerage in 2010. | He served as deputy to former Prime Minister Tony Blair for 10 years between 1997 and 2007, and received a peerage in 2010. |
At the height of his political career, Lord Prescott was a favourite target of the tabloids, dubbed "Two Jags" - after the two official Jaguar cars he is meant to have had at one point. | |
He famously punched a man who had thrown an egg at him while on the 2001 general election campaign trail. | |
"John is John," Mr Blair said the following day, after pictures of the scuffle featured in the press around the world. | |
After the news broke about Lord Prescott's health, Labour MPs sent him their best wishes. | |
Labour MP for Ilford North and member of the Treasury Committee Wes Streeting said: "Wishing John well - and looking forward to him being back in the tea room giving me a ticking off again soon!" | Labour MP for Ilford North and member of the Treasury Committee Wes Streeting said: "Wishing John well - and looking forward to him being back in the tea room giving me a ticking off again soon!" |
Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, said: "My first boss in government - get well soon John." | Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, said: "My first boss in government - get well soon John." |
Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said: "Sad to hear this - wishing John well." | Anna Turley, MP for Redcar, said: "Sad to hear this - wishing John well." |