<p><br /> John Prescott was greeted by a loud cheer from Labour peers as he was introduced to the House of Lords.<br /> </p><p><br /> 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.<br /> </p><p><br /> One of three Labour peers to take their seats in the Lords on Thursday, he has taken the official title of Baron Prescott of Kingston-upon-Hull, although he will be known more simply as Lord Prescott.<br /> </p><p><br /> Dressed in ermine robes, Lord Prescott 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.<br /> </p><p><br /> 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.<br /> </p><p><br /> Writing on the website Twitter, he said the new role would enable him to "keep holding this Government to account in Parliament".<br /> </p><p><br /> He was appointed to the Lords as part of a batch of 56 new peers announced one day after the election.<br /> </p>
