Peers cheers for Lord Prescott

Watched by his wife Pauline, who sat in one of the viewing galleries wearing a black hat, the former deputy prime minister swore his allegiance to the Queen in a traditional ceremony of introduction.

One of three Labour peers to take their seats in the Lords today, he has taken the official title of Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull, although he will be known more simply as Lord Prescott.

Dressed in ermine robes, Lord Prescott was flanked by his sponsoring peers, Labour former MPs Lord Grocott and Lord Dixon, as the Letters Patent affirming his peerage were announced by the Reading Clerk.

He then swore the Oath of Allegiance and signed the code of conduct before receiving a cheer from peers as he shook hands with the Lord Speaker, Baroness Hayman, on his way out of the chamber.

Now that the official ceremony is over, the 72-year-old is free to sit, speak and vote in the Lords. However, it is not known when he will make his maiden speech.