John Prescott QUITS House of Lords as ex-Deputy PM’s 50-year career comes to an end

End of an Era

John Prescott has retired from the House of Lords, marking the end of his 50-year career in Parliament. The former deputy PM was a Labour MP for several decades before being appointed a life peer in 2010.

Legacy and Controversy

Lord Prescott, who served as Tony Blair’s right-hand-man between 1997 and 2007, gained fame for his role in government. However, he was also known for punching a protester who threw an egg at him during a rally in 2001 and was nicknamed "two Jags" due to his ownership of multiple ministerial cars.

Rule of Attendance

Despite his past contributions, the 86-year-old has only spoken in the chamber once since suffering a stroke in 2019. Recent rules require members to attend regularly, leading to Lord Prescott's removal for not meeting the attendance criteria.

Other Departures

Lord Prescott is not the only member whose membership ended due to non-attendance. Former media mogul Lord Black of Crossharbour and bestselling novelist Lord Jeffrey Archer of Weston-Super-Mare have also announced their retirements from the House of Lords.

Lord Black, who served time in prison for fraud and obstruction of justice, was pardoned by former US president Donald Trump in 2019. Lord Archer, known for his successful writing career, took his seat in the unelected chamber in 1992.