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| Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke | Former deputy PM John Prescott suffers stroke |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| He is "over the worst" and "talking", former Home Secretary Alan Johnson told the BBC. | |
| Ex-PM Tony Blair said his thoughts were with Lord Prescott, adding: "Hoping very much that he gets better soon." | 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". | 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, praising the "swift actions" of the paramedics and A&E staff. | |
| 'Important figure' | |
| Mr Johnson said Lord Prescott was enormously grateful for the care he had received. | |
| "Now it's about the aftercare - it's what comes afterwards that is as important as what happens on the day of the stroke itself," he said. | |
| "They want him to get proper rest to get over this, that's the number one priority, to recover and get over that important after-stage." | |
| He said there had been no concerns for Lords Prescott's health in the days prior to the stroke and there were "no signs of him slowing down at all". | |
| "John is such an important figure now, as he has always been, in the Labour Party and I think there's enormous affection for him well beyond the Labour Party," Mr Johnson said. | |
| "He's a character. Around Hull and East Yorkshire he's hugely respected, but it goes much wider." | |
| 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. | 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 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. |
| 'John is John' | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | "John is John," Mr Blair said the following day, after pictures of the scuffle featured in the press around the world. |
| In 1993, in what was perhaps his greatest claim to fame, he called for the end to the union block vote and was credited with saving the then Labour leader John Smith from a humiliating defeat. | In 1993, in what was perhaps his greatest claim to fame, he called for the end to the union block vote and was credited with saving the then Labour leader John Smith from a humiliating defeat. |
| His role as a power-broker and counsellor smoothed the often strained relationship between Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, and also helped ensure a trouble-free transition from one leader to the other. | His role as a power-broker and counsellor smoothed the often strained relationship between Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, and also helped ensure a trouble-free transition from one leader to the other. |
| He also provided an important link between the New Labour of Mr Blair and Mr Brown and the party's old Labour traditions. | He also provided an important link between the New Labour of Mr Blair and Mr Brown and the party's old Labour traditions. |
| As environment, transport and the regions secretary in 1997, he was a key player in agreeing Kyoto Protocol on climate change - an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. | As environment, transport and the regions secretary in 1997, he was a key player in agreeing Kyoto Protocol on climate change - an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. |
| In the early 2000s, he proposed an elected regional assembly, but this was rejected in the north-east in a 2004 referendum, with 78% voting against. | In the early 2000s, he proposed an elected regional assembly, but this was rejected in the north-east in a 2004 referendum, with 78% voting against. |
| After the news broke about Lord Prescott's health, Labour MPs sent him their best wishes. | After the news broke about Lord Prescott's health, Labour MPs sent him their best wishes. |
| Leader Jeremy Corbyn said his thoughts were with his "good friend John and his family and friends at this difficult time". | Leader Jeremy Corbyn said his thoughts were with his "good friend John and his family and friends at this difficult time". |
| Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told BBC Politics Live: "I want to send my best wishes to John and my love to all his family. | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told BBC Politics Live: "I want to send my best wishes to John and my love to all his family. |
| "I think right across the Labour and trade union movements, even I think a lot of his opponents, will be wishing him a speedy recovery." | "I think right across the Labour and trade union movements, even I think a lot of his opponents, will be wishing him a speedy recovery." |
| 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." |