Former Labour Minister and Crossbench Peer, Frank Field, Passes Away at 81
Former Labour minister and crossbench peer, Frank Field, has passed away at the age of 81, as announced by his family.
In a statement, his family expressed that he would be mourned by admirers across politics, emphasizing his laughter and friendship as qualities greatly missed by those who knew him.
Lord Field, who represented Birkenhead for 40 years, was a prominent voice on welfare reform throughout his career. Serving as a minister under Tony Blair, he later joined the House of Lords in 2020.
According to the family statement issued by his Parliamentary office, Lord Field passed away following a period of illness. Described as an extraordinary individual dedicated to combating poverty, injustice, and environmental degradation, his contributions to British politics were highlighted for their decency and belief in people’s capacity for altruism.
The announcement of his terminal illness came in 2021, and he died in a London care home on Tuesday night.
During Tony Blair’s first term, Lord Field briefly served as minister for welfare reform. Paying tribute, Blair described him as possessing integrity, intelligence, and deep commitment to his beliefs, admiring his independent thinking and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom.
Harriet Harman, former secretary of state for social security, remembered Lord Field as clever, persistent, and caring, emphasizing his core belief that poverty was not to be tolerated.
Wes Streeting, Shadow Health Secretary, praised him as a great parliamentarian and crusader for social justice, acknowledging his wise counsel and kindness.
Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, described him as a supportive neighbor, brimming with ideas to improve society, and a staunch advocate for his constituents in Birkenhead.
Known as one of the most effective backbenchers in the House of Commons, Lord Field campaigned against poverty and advocated for controls on EU immigration. He resigned from Labour’s parliamentary group in 2018, citing concerns over antisemitism within the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
In the 2019 general election, he ran as an independent candidate in Birkenhead, finishing second with 17% of the vote.
Appointed as a non-affiliated, crossbench peer by the Conservative government in 2020, Lord Field campaigned in support of Brexit.
In 2021, he was honored as a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, describing it as a “terrific privilege” at the time.