The farm worker who was punched by John Prescott after he was shot down in 2001 expresses sympathy for his family but admits he has no regrets about the famous act

A farm worker who was punched by John Prescott in 2001 after being confronted by him has expressed sympathy for the politician’s family but admitted he has no regrets about his famous act.

The former Labor MP and peer died yesterday surrounded by loved ones in his nursing home after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

The son of a railway worker and a servant from north Wales, Lord Prescott was an excellent boxer as a child, and his most famous moment came when he punched a farmer who had tripped him up outside a Labor rally in Rhyl in 2001.

Police managed to intervene and 29-year-old Craig Evans, a farm worker from Denbigh, was taken away in handcuffs.

Now father-of-two Evans, 53, has paid tribute to the politician, saying his “thoughts are with the family”.

But speaking to the Mirror at his farmhouse, he said: “I don’t regret it, I still believe in what I did then.”

Following the incident, the former merchant seaman earned the nickname “Two Strikes” – a variation of the word “two prongs” – in reference to his love of luxury cars.

The blow came as Lord Prescott had just stepped off his Prescott Express campaign bus to address a Labor rally.

As he walked past protesters, he was struck by the egg covering his suit.

Lord Prescott turned and punched a protester, followed by a fight – all caught on television cameras.

This is an amazing story that will continue to be continued.

Lord John Prescott’s most famous moment occurred when he punched a farmer who planted eggs on him outside a Labor rally in Rhyl in 2001.

Mr. Prescott fights Craig Evans. Lord Prescott later joked that he was “in touch with voters”.

The incident helped cement his reputation as a no-punch politician (pictured in 2015).