Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Former Prime Minister Tony Blair reminisced about the time his former Deputy John Prescott punched a protestor - in a tribute after he died today aged 86 following his battle with Alzheimer's.
During the 2001 General Election campaign trail , Lord Prescott hit the headlines after throwing a left-handed punch at a man who threw an egg at him. Following the incident in Rhyl, North Wales, the ex-merchant seaman earned the nickname "two jabs" - a variation on the "two Jags" he was called for his fondness for luxury cars. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme today, Sir Tony told that they "had a lot of really funny times" with his deputy, adding "he could be a very amusing guy".
Clearly emotional, he said: "I was just thinking this morning about the the time when in the 2001 election - remember when someone smashed an egg on his head and he turned around and he punched the guy and laid him out? "This caused a huge sort of fracas, this was an immense media story, and we had to give a press conference in the election campaign the next day. And some people were saying, 'Well, look, he's deputy prime minister, you can't have a deputy prime minister thumping a voter.' "And other people said .
.. 'he had this egg slammed in his head, and he turned around and and whacked the guy, and a lot of people think, Well, fair enough.
' And so there was .
