A former York MP has paid tribute to the "razor-sharp" mind of John Prescott.

Hugh Bayley - Labour's York Central MP from 1992 to 2015 - shared his thoughts after former deputy prime minister, John Prescott, died aged 86 following a battle with Alzheimer’s.

Lord Prescott's family said he had "spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment".

The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman died "peacefully" and surrounded by relatives at his care home, they added.

"John Prescott taught me Parliamentary procedure when I was first elected in 1992," Mr Bayley said.

"He was the opposition transport minister and put me on the railways bill committee to challenge the Conservatives’ rail privatisation plans, and he taught me how to table amendments and pick holes in the government’s proposals.

"We stopped the Treasury’s attempt to take over the railway pension funds, and predicted the financial problems which have dogged both private train operating companies and private ownership of track and infrastructure."

Born in Prestatyn in Wales on May 31, 1938, the son of a railwayman, Lord Prescott left school at the age of 15 to work as a trainee chef and then as a steward on the Cunard Line before entering politics.

John Prescott visiting York in 2009 (Image: The Press) Over a parliamentary career spanning more than half a century, Lord Prescott was MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years and served for 10 years as deputy prime minister after Labour’s 1997 general election landslide.

Mr Bayley added: "I supported John’s campaign to become deputy leader of the Labour Party.

"John did more than any other politician to secure the world’s first climate agreement, the Kyoto protocol, by hammering out the deal in all night talks using his knowledge of the politics of other European countries which he’s gained as a UK member of the European Parliament.

"He had a reputation as a bruiser, but actually had a razor-sharp mind and an unshakable commitment to fairness, equality, and opportunity, the core values of the Labour party, and to economic stability and efficiency to generate the revenues needed to put Labour’s health, education and welfare plans into practice."

Lord Prescott was ennobled in 2010 and introduced to the upper chamber as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull having served for four decades as an MP for the city.

He ceased to be a member of the upper House in July this year after facing health difficulties.

He had only spoken once in the chamber since suffering a stroke in 2019, official records show, and had not voted since February 2023.

In a statement released after his death, his wife Pauline and sons, Johnathan and David, said that representing the people of Hull had been "his greatest honour".