Arise Lord Two Jags! Prescott to become a peer in Brown's resignation honours

Arise Lord Two Jags! Prescott to become a peer in Brown's resignation honours

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 2:19 PM on 28th May 2010

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Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott is set to become a peer today as part of Gordon Brown's resignation honours list.

The politician, who became a national laughing stock after his affair with a secretary, is one of a string of party loyalists being awarded with a seat in the Lords.

Former Cabinet ministers John Reid and Des Browne are also heading to the Upper House.

And Mr Brown's long-suffering former aide Sue Nye - who he blamed for the 'bigot' row because she introduced him to pensioner Gillian Duffy - is also being made a peer.

Honour: John Prescott is set to be made a peer

Tory peerages are handed to Next boss Simon Wolfson for services to business.

Mr Wolfson, a former Conservative advisor, was one of the most vociferous critics of Labour's National Insurance hike.

'I don't want to be a member of the House of Lords. I will not accept it.'

John Prescott, August 2008

The widow of Gary Newlove, Helen and Michael Howard's former press secretary Guy Black are also being ennobled.

Mrs Newlove became a vocal campaigner against Britain's gang culture after her husband was beaten to death three years ago.

All Prime Ministers are entitled to draw up a resignation honours list bestowing peerages and lesser honours on anyone they choose.

The practice became notorious in 1976 when the outgoing Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson issued his so-called ‘Lavender List’, which included several wealthy businessmen.

In the wake of the ‘cash for honours’ scandal, Tony Blair eventually chose not to issue a resignation honours list.

Long-suffering: Gordon Brown's aide Sue Nye (white jacket) as he meets Gillian Duffy in Rochdale. He blamed the run-in on Nye when he got in his car

The new Government has pledged to reform the Lords, but it is not yet clear whether the changes will lead to a fully elected second chamber - leaving open the possibility that Mr Brown’s political cronies could retain their seats for many years.

Mr Prescott had made little secret of his desire to go to the Lords, although he insists that he only wanted the honour for his wife Pauline.

Miss Nye, who is married to the millionaire former BBC chairman Gavyn Davies, hit the headlines a few weeks ago when Mr Brown blamed her for unwittingly sparking the ‘Bigotgate’ row which torpedoed Labour’s election hopes, after she introduced him to Rochdale pensioner Gillian Duffy.

Mr Prescott, 71, stood down at the general election just weeks ago after 40 years as a Labour MP. He was deputy PM under Tony Blair for a decade.

He quit the post in 2007 when Mr Blair left Downing Street. His elevation to the Lords caps his rise from a ship's steward to some of the highest offices of state.

It is also a remarkable turnaround for a man who regards himself as a working class hero.

He insisted only two years ago that he would not follow Labour grandees in accepting a peerage. 'I don't want to be a member of the House of Lords. I will not accept it,' he said.

But despite insisting he dislikes 'flunkery and titles', it was an open secret he - and more particularly his wife Pauline - were keen on the job.

During his lengthy political career, Mr Prescott sparked hilarity with his mangled speech and unrefined approach. During the 2001 election campaign, he famously punched a farmer who threw an egg at him.

In April 2006, he was forced to admit having a two-year fling with his diary secretary Tracey Temple - including trysts at his grace-and-favour flat in Whitehall.

His wife was furious but chose to stick by him. The couple have been married since 1961 and have two adult sons.

At the Labour Party conference in autumn 2006, Mr Prescott apologised for his affair. 'I know in the last year I let myself down, I let you down. So Conference, I just want to say sorry.'

Although he was a useful reminder of Labour's working class roots, the MP became known for his love of the finer things in life.

He was dubbed 'Two Jags' for having two Jaguars and was famously spotted playing croquet at his grace-and-favour country house Dorneywood in 2006 when he was supposed to be running the country in Mr Blair's absence