Independent, awkward, but a champion of the people

Frank Field broke the British political mould

- PAUL ROUTLEDGE

He could be a right old nuisance, but he was a champion of the people. In 50 years of public life - as anti-poverty campaigner, Labour MP and minister, prolific author and prominent Christian - Frank Field often rubbed people up the wrong way.

That was the point of him. As his old colleague Lord David Blunkett said yesterday: "He was the grit in the oyster." Field, fearless and awkward, died aged 81 on St George's Day in a London nursing home after a long cancer battle.

His family called him "an extraordinary individual who spent his life fighting poverty, injustice and environmental destruction".

Their statement added: "His decency and faith in people's self-interested altruism made a unique contribution to British politics. Frank will be mourned by admirers across the political divide.

"Above all, he will be deeply missed by those lucky enough to have enjoyed his laughter and friendship." Tony Blair made Lord Field a minister with the job of "thinking the unthinkable" about welfare reform, and sacked him when he did just that.

Sir Tony led the tributes saying: "Frank had integrity, intelligence and a deep commitment to causes he believed in.

"He was an independent thinker, never constrained by conventional wisdom, but always pushing at the frontier of new ideas." Labour leader Keir Starmer said Lord Field "dedicated his life to being a voice for the vulnerable and marginalised".

He called him "principled, courageous, and independent-minded" and said his "honour and integrity were well known and admired".

Softly spoken, gracious and polite, he had the manner and manners of a monk but his mildness must not be confused with meekness.

Field was passionate about tackling poverty and cared deeply about his Birkenhead constituency.

He fought crusades against deprivation, the scourge of child hunger and what he called the "rampant injustice" suffered by workers in the gig economy.