John Prescott’s Son Joins Green Party

Sky News reports that David Prescott, the offspring of former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, has shifted allegiance to the Green Party. This move marks a notable development in the political landscape, occurring a year after the passing of his father.

David Prescott, who was raised in a family deeply rooted in socialism and trade unionism, had previously contested Labour candidacy in multiple constituencies. Despite his efforts, he was not selected for his father’s East Hull seat or other regions like Greenwich and Woolwich. However, he succeeded in securing the Labour nomination for Gainsborough in 2015, though he lost to Conservative Edward Leigh.

In a recent Facebook post, David appeared with Green activists in Gorton and Denton, where the party achieved its first by-election triumph last week. The caption accompanying the image declared: “What. A. Day. Hope Beat Hate.”

Political Reactions to the Defection

“David was born into the Labour Party and grew up in a family that has always been committed to socialist values,” said Karl Turner, who replaced John Prescott as the Labour MP for Hull East in 2010. “He was politically active from a young age and always made his own decisions, independent of his father.”

Turner added that he believes John Prescott would have been “deeply frustrated” had he been alive to see the outcome, but attributed the defection to Labour’s inability to retain progressive voters. “The Greens represent a more left-leaning alternative that resonates with those who feel Labour has strayed from its core mission,” he explained.

The Greens’ success in Gorton and Denton has intensified concerns about Labour’s struggles to hold onto its progressive base. The party’s stance on the Gaza war and other issues has prompted many supporters to seek alternatives. A YouGov poll for Sky News revealed that the Greens surged to 21%, overtaking Labour in a dramatic shift, driven largely by the recent by-election campaign.

Following the loss, some Labour MPs have called for a reassessment of leadership. John Trickett, representing Normanton and Hemsworth, tweeted: “This outcome reflects poor political choices at the top, and Labour must embrace change to regain momentum.”

“The result is a clear message that Labour’s current approach is losing touch with its supporters,” said another MP. “We need to form alliances with progressive parties, not just compete for the center-left vote. Without fundamental reform, the party risks further fragmentation.”

The prime minister acknowledged the by-election’s performance as “a major letdown” but emphasized that such losses are not uncommon for governing parties. He pledged to continue pushing forward, despite the growing challenges.

A Green Party representative noted that David’s decision to join the party was not publicly announced due to respect for Labour members, but highlighted his role in rallying 2,000 volunteers to support Hannah’s campaign in Gorton and Denton.

Read more from Sky News: My Run-In with John Prescott | Can Starmer Find a Way Back?