Veteran Merseyside MP Frank Field has passed away at the age of 81.
Field represented Labour in the Birkenhead constituency for 40 years until 2019, when he stood as an independent candidate in the General Election.
He was inducted into the House of Lords as Lord Field of Birkenhead and recognised in the 2022 New Year Honours for his work on social issues.
A statement read out in the Lords in 2021 revealed the then 79-year-old was suffering from terminal cancer and subsequently spent time in a hospice.
Lord Field’s family confirmed his death on Wednesday following that illness.
“Frank was director of the Child Poverty Action Group between 1969 and 1979, and the Member of Parliament for Birkenhead between 1979 and 2019,” read a statement.
“During that time, he served as a Minister for Welfare Reform and led the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances.
“He also chaired the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee (and its predecessor Committee on Social Services and Social Security) as well as the Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill.
“In 2020, Frank entered the House of Lords as the Rt Hon the Lord Field of Birkenhead, was appointed Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in the 2022 New Year Honours and continued to serve on the boards of Cool Earth, Feeding Britain and the Frank Field Education Trust.
“Frank is survived by two brothers.
“He will be mourned by admirers across politics but above all he will be greatly missed by those lucky enough to have enjoyed his laughter and friendship.”
Tony Blair, who appointed Field to his cabinet as welfare reform minister in the mid-1990s, led tributes from across the Westminster political spectrum.
The ex-Labour prime minister said: “Frank had integrity, intelligence and deep commitment to the causes he believed in.
“He was an independent thinker never constrained by conventional wisdom, but always pushing at the frontier of new ideas.
“Even when we disagreed, I had the utmost respect for him as a colleague and a character.
“Whether in his work on child poverty or in his time devoted to the reform of our welfare system, he stood up and stood out for the passion and insight he brought to any subject.”
Conservative MP Tracey Crouch added: “I am genuinely devastated to hear that Frank Field has died.
“He was one of parliament’s nicest people. Kind, softly spoken & generous in praise.
“He has been v poorly so there is comfort knowing he is now at peace but he will be hugely missed.”