John Prescott was an old-style political bruiser who played a vital role in the New Labour project. He scorned what he called "the beautiful people" - the men in smart suits with red roses and mobile phones who became the new face of Labour.

The charismatic deputy prime minister, who has died at the age of 86, was known best for punching a member of the electorate and acting as a vital bridge for Tony Blair to reach the unions

John Prescott, Britain's longest-serving deputy prime minister who died on Wednesday, was indispensable to Tony Blair's New Labour government, a working-class trailblazer who connected with the public in ways most politicians cannot.