From two Jags to two bags: Prescott praised for helping serve buffet car tea

Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott stepped in to help a stretched assistant in the buffet car on a train.
Lord Prescott. Jonathan Brady/PA WireLord Prescott. Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
Lord Prescott. Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

When the politician once dubbed Two Jags was praised for the quality of his cup of tea, he quipped “That’s because I used two bags.”

He was on Friday’s 11.48am King’s Cross to Hull service, and seeing a queue built up in the buffet car, he offered to get behind the counter with the female employee and start serving passengers.

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The former ship’s steward, 78, was once mocked by Conservative MP Nicholas Soames who called out to him: “Mine’s a gin and tonic, Giovanni, and would you ask my friend what he’s having?”

Seemingly not forgetting the put-down, Lord Prescott tweeted: “Hope everyone enjoyed their coffee and teas on today’s @Hull_Trains. No one asked for G&Ts!”

And referring to the row between Jeremy Corbyn and Virgin Trains over seats and pictures of him on board, Lord Prescott tweeted a link to Hull Daily Mail coverage of him in action behind the counter, saying: “Here I am serving passengers on the @Hull_Trains buffet. Shot on a camera phone not CCTV.”

Hull Trains thanked Lord Prescott on Twitter for helping out.

A customer called Paul tweeted him, saying: “You make a good brew sir.”

Lord Prescott replied: “That’s because I use two bags.”