Susanna Reid opens Good Morning Britain with a 'breaking news' statement

GMB: Susanna Reid delivers sad news John Prescott has died

Good Morning Britain kicked off Thursday's programme with 'breaking news' as Susanna Reid delivered a statement.

Susanna, 53, revealed that John Prescott, the former Labour Deputy Prime Minister, had passed away at the age of 86, surrounded by his family after a struggle with Alzheimer's.

The host announced: "Breaking news this morning, the former Deputy Prime Minister and Labour stalwart, John Prescott, Lord Prescott, has died at the age of 86 at his care home surrounded by his family.

"He had been battling Alzheimer's. In a statement released as we went live this morning, his family said he'd dedicated his life to fighting for social justice, striving to better the lives of others and safeguarding the environment."

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Good Morning Britain started Thursday's show with 'breaking news' as Susanna Reid read out a statement (Image: ITV)

Following his death, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David released a statement saying that serving the people of Hull had been "his greatest honour", reports the Mirror.

"We are deeply saddened to inform you that our beloved husband, father and grandfather, John Prescott, passed away peacefully yesterday at the age of 86," they stated.

"He did so enveloped in the love of his family and the jazz music of Marian Montgomery.

"John devoted his life to improving the lives of others, championing social justice and protecting the environment, doing so from his time as a waiter on the cruise liners to becoming Britain's longest-serving deputy prime minister."

Former Labour Party Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, has died (Image: AFP/Getty Images)

The statement continued: "John dearly loved his home of Hull and representing its people in Parliament for 40 years was his greatest honour. We would like to thank the amazing NHS doctors and nurses who cared for him after his stroke in 2019 and the dedicated staff at the care home where he passed away after latterly living with Alzheimer's.

"In lieu of flowers and if you wish to do so, you can donate to Alzheimer's Research UK. As you can imagine, our family needs to process our grief so we respectfully request time and space to mourn in private. Thank you."

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Lord Prescott was a stalwart of Sir Tony Blair's New Labour movement and often seen as the guardian of the party's core principles amid a wave of modernisation from the leadership. Sir Tony expressed he is "devastated" by the news of his old ally's death.

Elevated to the House of Lords in 2010, Lord Prescott took his seat in the upper chamber as Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull following a distinguished four-decade tenure as the city's MP.

Good Morning Britain is on ITV1 weekdays at 6am and on ITVX