John Prescott’s son joins Greens

John Prescott’s Son Switches to Green Party

Sky News has learned that David Prescott, the son of former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, has become a member of the Green Party. The move comes just a year after his father’s passing, marking a significant shift for the family.

By-election Victory Sparks Debate

In a recent social media post, David Prescott was pictured with Green campaigners in Gorton and Denton, areas that secured the party’s first by-election success in its history. The accompanying message read:

“What. A. Day. Hope Beat Hate.”

Labour’s Fears of Losing Progressive Support

Labour MP Karl Turner, who took over John Prescott’s former constituency in 2010, described the defection as “hugely disappointing” yet “no surprise.” He highlighted David’s upbringing in a socialist household, noting,

“David was born into the Labour Party and like myself he was from a rock-solid socialist and trade union family.”

Turner speculated that John Prescott would be “furious” if alive, attributing the loss to Labour’s failure to retain progressive voters.

“His anger would be aimed at the Labour Party for allowing progressive voters to leave Labour and go to what they see as a left-wing, more progressive alternative.”

Defection Context and Past Campaigns

The outcome follows Labour’s recent setback in Gorton and Denton, where the Greens overtook the party in a poll conducted by YouGov for Sky News. The party’s support surged to 21%, driven by the campaign’s visibility. David Prescott, one of John’s two sons with his wife Pauline, had previously sought Labour nominations in multiple constituencies, including his father’s East Hull seat, but did not succeed.

Controversy and Political Shift

David was suspended from his role as an aide to Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 due to harassment allegations, though he denied the claims. The party did not suspend his membership at the time, as no formal complaint was filed.

A Green Party representative stated that David had not publicly discussed his switch “out of respect to friends who are still Labour members, councillors, and MPs.” They added,

“But he was one of 2,000 people who came to Gorton and Denton to help get Hannah elected, and we thank him for his support.”

Labour’s Leadership Under Scrutiny

Following the by-election loss, some Labour MPs have pointed to the Middle East conflict as a backdrop, suggesting the result reflects broader challenges. One MP, John Trickett, criticized the prime minister, stating,

“Labour lost votes in every direction and the same problem is replicated across the country. The result of bad political choices made by the PM.”

Another Labour representative argued that the party’s policies had alienated its core supporters, claiming,

“Stopping Reform now has to be the priority. But Labour can’t do that from a position of arrogance or denial. We will need to work with other progressive parties.”

Prime Minister Acknowledges Disappointment

The prime minister admitted the Gorton and Denton result had been “very disappointing” but emphasized that by-election losses are not uncommon for ruling governments. They vowed to “keep fighting” despite the setback.

Read more from Sky News: My run-in with John Prescott | Can Starmer find a way back?