Former Labour minister and crossbench peer Frank Field has died at the age of 81, his family has confirmed.
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A statement from Lord Field of Birkenhead’s family, issued by his Parliamentary office, said he had died on 23 April 2024, following a period of illness.
“Frank was an extraordinary individual who spent his life fighting poverty, injustice and environmental destruction,” the statement said.
“His decency and faith in people’s self-interested altruism made a unique contribution to British politics.”
Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, with former Prime Minister Tony Blair praising Lord Field’s integrity, intelligence, and commitment to his beliefs
Labour MP Harriet Harman described him as “clever, persistent, and caring,” while Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting hailed him as “a great parliamentarian” and “crusader for social justice.”
Dame Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, remembered Lord Field as a supportive colleague and a great champion of his constituents in Birkenhead.
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Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle praised Lord Field’s independence and effectiveness as a backbencher, noting his campaigns against poverty, food insecurity, and climate change.
Lord Field’s departure from the Labour Party in 2018, citing concerns about antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, marked a significant moment in his political career. He later ran as an independent candidate in the 2019 general election.
In 2020, Lord Field was appointed as a non-affiliated, crossbench peer by the Conservative government, following his advocacy for Brexit.
His contributions to public life were recognized in 2021 when he was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, an honor he described as a “terrific privilege.”
Lord Field, who represented Birkenhead for 40 years, was known for his advocacy on welfare reform throughout his career. He served as a minister under Prime Minister Tony Blair and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2020.
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