East Hull constituents remember their former MP

John Prescott’s constituents have remembered him as a “strong character who did good for the city”.

The former Labour MP, who has died at the age of 86, represented Hull East for 40 years after first being elected in 1970.

It is the industrial heart of the city, with many factories such as cleaning products maker Reckitt Benckiser, as well as being home to a string of docks along the Humber.

Lord Prescott lived in Sutton and was a familiar face around the area.

One of his favourite takeaways was Sharon’s Plaice, a fish and chip shop on the Ings Road Estate.

Owner Sharon Foy fondly recalled his visits to pick up a fish supper.

“He was always joking,” she said.

“Always laughing and joking and soon as he walks in, ‘You’ve got me some chips while I’m waiting’?

“He’d stand here and eat some chips while he was waiting, but not tell his wife.”

She described occasionally carrying his takeaway out to his waiting Jaguar car.

Ms Foy, who has run the shop for 35 years, described his death as “upsetting”.

“I think he did a lot for east Hull,” she said.

“A lot of people people do think a lot about him.

“There’s a lot of different opinion, but no, I think he will be remembered.”

One customer queuing for his lunch described him as a “genuine sort of bloke who spoke how it was”.

Nev said Prescott had “done quite well for Hull over the years”.

“I think people thought well of him generally, irrespective of whatever party you support, ” he said.

“You know he was straightforward bloke, he was OK.”

Kevin Charles said he used to bump into the MP when he was out shopping.

“He was a local politician for years he was,” he said.

“He was part of the community.”

Mr Charles said he would also be remembered for his fondness for Jaguar cars.

“Two jags,” he laughed

“Two jags John Prescott, that’s it.”

Carol out shopping in the freezing weather said she was sad when she heard the news of his passing.

“He was quite a figure for the area, he did stick to his guns and what he believed,” she said.

“So I think he was a good MP for the area.

“I think he’ll be remembered as a strong character who did good for the city and be remembered fondly.”

On Holderness Road, the area’s main shopping street, people were taking a walk around East Park in the autumn sunshine, despite freezing temperatures.

One man recalled his encounter with the MP in the 1990s.

Bob said that he and Prescott were sitting in a garage having the tyres replaced on their cars during the premiership of Margaret Thatcher.

“He must have known I’d recognised him and he just nodded,” he said.

“I just said ‘When are we going to get this lot out John’?

“And he just said ‘soon as possible’.”

He acknowledged that many saw the MP as a divisive figure

“I think it’s a shame that you mention his name and people went, ‘yeah, what did he ever do for me’?

“I mean east Hull, the majority working class and he did try and do what he could for the people of his constituency.”

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.