John Prescott’s son joins Greens
John Prescott’s son joins Greens
Sky News has uncovered that David Prescott, the son of former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, has become a member of the Green Party. The 2025 by-election in Gorton and Denton, where the Greens secured their first-ever victory, marks a significant shift in political allegiance.
Political defection and family legacy
David, who grew up in a household deeply rooted in Labour politics, joined the Greens in October 2025—a year following his father’s passing. His father, John, had served alongside Tony Blair for a decade. In a social media post, David was pictured with Green activists, accompanied by a caption declaring: “What. A. Day. Hope Beat Hate.”
“David was born into the Labour Party and like myself he was from a rock-solid socialist and trade union family,” said Karl Turner, who took over John Prescott’s former constituency in the 2010 general election. “Again like myself, David was politically active from a very young age. David was always his own man not his old man.”
Turner added that he believed John Prescott would have been “furious” if he were alive today, but emphasized the father’s “anger would be aimed at the Labour Party for allowing progressive voters to leave and seek a more left-wing alternative.”
Labour’s growing challenges
The Greens’ rise has raised concerns within Labour, particularly after their recent by-election loss in Gorton and Denton. The result has intensified fears that the party is losing support not only to Reform on the right but also to progressive voters disillusioned with its policies, such as its stance on the Gaza conflict.
Following the Gorton and Denton defeat, a YouGov poll for Sky News revealed the Green Party surged to 21%, overtaking Labour in a surprising turn. This growth, attributed partly to the by-election’s publicity, underscores a broader trend of shifting voter loyalty.
David Prescott, one of John’s two sons with his wife Pauline, previously ran as a Labour candidate in several constituencies, including East Hull. However, he failed to be selected for some roles. In 2015, he successfully contested Gainsborough but lost to Conservative Edward Leigh.
Mr. Prescott was suspended from his role as an aide to Jeremy Corbyn in 2017 due to harassment allegations. He denied the claims, and Labour did not suspend his membership as no formal complaint was filed.
“David has not publicly spoken about joining the Greens out of respect to friends who are still Labour members, councillors, and MPs,” said a Green Party source. “But he was one of 2,000 individuals who helped campaign for Hannah’s victory in Gorton and Denton, and we appreciate his contribution.”
Labour MPs have since expressed dismay over the defection. John Trickett, representing Normanton and Hemsworth, noted the by-election “masked by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, sparked by US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran,” highlighted a broader issue. “Labour lost votes in every direction,” he remarked, “and the same pattern repeats across the country. This is the result of poor political choices by the PM.”
Another Labour MP described the loss as a “punch in the face” for the party and Keir Starmer’s leadership. They called for a progressive alliance, arguing that the government had “burned its base, alienated its core vote, sidelined its activists, and ignored the very people it aimed to represent.”
The prime minister acknowledged the “very disappointing” Gorton and Denton performance but insisted it is not unusual for incumbent governments to face by-election setbacks. He pledged to “keep fighting” amid the mounting challenges.
