Man punched by John Prescott speaks out after politician's death

The man who was famously punched by John Prescott has paid his respects to the former deputy prime minister. Craig Evans, who hurled an egg at the Labour politician during a protest about farming issues in 2001, expressed his condolences after hearing of his death.

Speaking from his home, the-53-year-old dad-of-two said: "A friend called me this morning to say he died, he had Alzheimer's I believe, you wouldn't wish that on anyone, my thoughts are with his family. The guy has died."

He added: "Alzheimer's is a terrible thing... my grandad died of Alzheimers and you wouldn't wish that on anyone. It robs the person and it robs the family of the person."

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Over the years, Craig has turned down numerous TV invitations to discuss the incident, which made headlines nationwide, the Mirror reports. When asked about his current feelings on the matter, he said: "It's too long ago, it is what it is, it happened at the time. I'm well known [for it]".

Craig claims he is often recognised as the man who had a scuffle with John Prescott. When questioned if he regrets the incident after all these years, he replied: "I don't regret it, I still believe now what I did back then."

Mr Prescott passed away at the age of 86 following a battle with Alzheimer's, his family confirmed earlier today.

His family have said he "spent his life trying to improve the lives of others, fighting for social justice and protecting the environment". The former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman passed away "peacefully" and surrounded by loved ones at his care home, they confirmed.

A key player in Sir Tony Blair's New Labour era, Lord Prescott was often viewed as the guardian of the party's core tenets amid a wave of modernisation. Hearing of his former colleague's death, Sir Tony shared that he is "devastated".

After being made a life peer in 2010, he became Baron Prescott of Kingston upon Hull, capping off his forty years representing the city in Parliament. Following his passing, his wife Pauline and sons Johnathan and David released a statement expressing how serving the people of Hull was his "his greatest honour".