Keir Starmer and Tony Blair lead mourners at funeral of former Deputy PM John Prescott who died aged 86
Keir Starmer and Tony Blair lead mourners at funeral of former Deputy PM John Prescott who died aged 86
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TONY Blair, Gordon Brown and Keir Starmer are leading mourners at the funeral of John Prescott. The service for the former deputy prime minister, who died in November aged 86, is being held at Hull Minster, in his former constituency. Lord Prescott's coffin was carried into the minster as former Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell played the Welsh national anthem on the bagpipes.
![[Pallbearers carrying Lord John Prescott's coffin.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-aged-86-spent-early-967843638.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Senior figures from the past and current Labour governments are attending, including Prime Minister Sir Keir, who praised Lord Prescott for his "tenacity and vision" ahead of the service on Thursday. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and former prime minister Gordon Brown were also at the minster before 11.30am, with the service due to start from 12pm.
![[Photo of John Prescott leaving a meeting.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/file-photo-dated-08-03-967823802.jpg?strip=all&w=680)
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair arrived with his wife Cherie and was followed into the church by Lord Mandelson. Sir Keir and Mr Brown walked into the building with their wives and began chatting to many of the guests who had assembled in the church.
![[Sir Keir Starmer at Lord Prescott's funeral.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-aged-86-spent-early-967828536.jpg?strip=all&w=640)
Former home secretary Baroness Jacqui Smith, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle were among the first to arrive, followed by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner walked towards the minster with Mr Campbell.
![[Hearse arriving at Lord John Prescott's funeral.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-aged-86-spent-early-967831165.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper arrived with her husband Ed Balls. More than 300 family members, friends and colleagues have been invited to the service. Lord Prescott, who served as deputy prime minister under Sir Tony Blair between 1997 and 2007, died on November 20 last year in a nursing home where he had been living with Alzheimer's.
![[Angela Rayner at Lord Prescott's funeral.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-aged-86-spent-early-967838247.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
