John Prescott memorial statue refused in Hull

A memorial statue to honour politician and Labour Party "giant" Lord John Prescott has been refused at a full meeting of Hull City Council.

The former deputy prime minister, deputy Labour leader, MP for Hull East and member of the House of Lords died on 20 November last year.

He was 86 years old and had been in a care home, living with Alzheimer's disease.

Prescott was first elected as MP for Hull East in 1970 and and was one of the city's longest-serving MPs, holding the seat for 40 years.

Councillor Julia Conner raised the motion for the statue on Thursday. Concerns were raised about funding and the plans were rejected after a 26-26 tied vote. Lord Mayor Cheryl Payne cast the deciding vote.

Funding had been requested from the council leader's capital budget, and for the statue to be placed in Prescott's former constituency.

Council leader Mike Ross voted against the motion and said such a statue would cost "upward of £150,000". He questioned whether the public would feel it was "right to spend taxpayers' money on this proposal".

Ross added: "That's not to say that John Prescott should not be commemorated... the question is how."

Conner said the statue would be a "typical Hull mark of respect for a working-class lad who made his way to the top of the politics, and who made his mark on the city and the world.

"He was a character... John's presence and style certainly packed a punch."

Prescott was deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007 and deputy prime minister from 1997 to 2007.

He is remembered by many for punching a protester who threw an egg at him during the 2001 general election campaign.

Following Prescott's death, tributes were paid by former prime ministers. Sir Tony Blair said there was "no one quite like him in British politics".

Gordon Brown called him a "working-class hero" and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed him a "true giant" of the Labour movement.

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