Tributes have poured in for John Prescott, the former deputy UK prime minister, who has died at the age of 86.
The late Labour politician, who first became an MP for Kingston upon Hull East in 1970, left a legacy as a ‘working class hero’ and key figure in the party.
Mr Prescott’s family, including his wife and two sons, confirmed in a statement that he had died peacefully while surrounded by his family.
The statement read: “We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86.He did so surrounded by the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.
“John spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain’s longest-serving deputy prime minister.”
Mr Prescott was indeed a big character, known for his political contributions and larger-than-life persona that sometimes overshadowed his work.
Among the more challenging moments he faced while in the public eye was the revelation of an extramarital affair.
Who was Tracey Temple, John Prescott’s lover?
Tracey Temple had worked as a diary secretary for other MPs before joining Mr Prescot’s team as his assistant private secretary. She was tasked with managing his diaries, working closely with him throughout his work days.
In 2006, it was revealed that Mr Prescott had been involved in an extramarital affair with Ms Temple for two years between 2002 and 2004.
Tracey Temple, who was 24 years younger than the deputy PM, revealed they had been involved in sexual activity even in government offices.
The Mail on Sunday reportedly paid Temple £250,000 after she went on record and detailed some of their sexual interactions in Whitehall.
As Mr Prescott was in office when the revelations emerged, the scandalous news left him facing intense public scrutiny.
Addressing the controversy, he told Daily Mirror: “I did have a relationship with her which I regret. It ended some time ago. I have discussed this fully with my wife Pauline who is devastated by the news. I would be grateful if Pauline and I can now get on with our lives together."
Pauline, Mr Prescott’s wife, chose to stand by her husband’s side despite the infidelities and even reportedly urged him not to resign at the time.
Following the news, Ms Temple also said: “I feel I have been used and am being used as a scapegoat.”
The deputy PM downplayed the nature of his relationship with Ms Temple, maintaining years later that it wasn’t a relationship at all - but the damage had already been done.
"The relationship just wasn't like that at all. In fact, when I apologised at the [Labour Party] Conference, I wasn't even disowning Tracey because there wasn't a relationship," he said.
However, the fallout over the scandal left a lasting imprint on his career and prompted other women to come forward and accuse him of sexist behaviour.
That same year, at the party conference, Mr Prescott confirmed that he would step down from his position as deputy PM.
“I know that in the last year, I let myself down, I let you down. So conference, I just want to say sorry,” he said at the time.
