John Prescott’s Son Joins Green Party

Sky News reports that David Prescott, the son of former Labour deputy prime minister John Prescott, has officially become a member of the Green Party. The move marks a significant shift for the 58-year-old, who previously represented Labour in several constituencies.

David, who was raised in a family deeply rooted in socialist ideals, joined the Greens in October 2025—a year following the passing of his father. Sir Tony Blair, his father’s political partner, had served alongside him for a decade, shaping David’s early exposure to British politics.

Campaign Involvement

In a recent Facebook post, David Prescott was pictured with Green activists in Gorton and Denton, the areas where the party secured its first by-election win in history. The caption accompanying the image read: “What. A. Day. Hope Beat Hate.”

“David was born into the Labour Party and like myself, he came from a family that has always championed socialist values and trade unionism,” said Karl Turner, who took over John Prescott’s former seat in Hull East in 2010. “He was politically active from a young age, always carving his own path, not simply following his father’s footsteps.”

“I believe John Prescott would be furious if he were alive today. But his anger would be directed at Labour for allowing progressive voters to defect to a party he saw as a more radical alternative,” Turner continued.

Political Reactions

The by-election loss has intensified concerns within Labour about losing support to both Reform on the right and the Greens on the left. This comes as progressive voters increasingly distance themselves from the party due to issues like its position on the Gaza conflict.

Following the result, a YouGov poll for Sky News revealed the Greens surged to 21%, gaining four percentage points. The pollster attributed this growth largely to the visibility generated by the Gorton and Denton campaign.

Labour MPs have expressed frustration, with some suggesting the party’s leadership is at fault. John Trickett, representing Normanton and Hemsworth, tweeted: “Labour lost votes in every direction. The same pattern is playing out nationwide. This is the consequence of the PM’s political choices. A leadership change is urgently needed.”

“This outcome is a punch in the face for Labour and Keir Starmer’s leadership. We’re not surprised voters are leaving,” said one MP. “The government has alienated its core supporters, sidelined activists, and ignored the people it was meant to represent. Until Labour reforms fundamentally, it won’t retain the centre-left vote.”

Previous Political Stints

Before joining the Greens, David Prescott had attempted to run as a Labour candidate in multiple constituencies, including his father’s East Hull seat, Greenwich and Woolwich, and Hull West and Hessle. However, he was not selected for these roles.

Notably, he secured a Labour nomination for Gainsborough in 2015 but lost to Conservative Edward Leigh. In 2017, he was temporarily suspended from his position as an aide to Jeremy Corbyn due to harassment allegations. David denied the claims, and the party did not formally revoke his membership at the time.

Support from Green Party

A Green Party representative noted: “David hasn’t publicly commented on his decision to leave Labour out of respect for those who remain in the party. Yet he was among 2,000 volunteers who helped secure Hannah’s victory in Gorton and Denton. We’re grateful for his contribution.”

The prime minister acknowledged the “very disappointing” performance in Gorton and Denton but emphasized that by-election losses are a common occurrence for incumbent governments. He pledged to continue “fighting” for the party’s cause despite the setback.