Rt Hon Lord Field of Birkenhead, CH, a former Labour minister and crossbench peer, has sadly passed away at the age of 81 following a period of illness. Lord Field’s distinguished career in public service spanned several decades, during which he held various high-profile positions and made significant contributions to social policy and poverty reduction in the United Kingdom.
Born in Birkenhead in 1942, Lord Field became politically active at a young age. He served as the Director of the Child Poverty Action Group from 1969 to 1979, where he played a pivotal role in raising awareness about child poverty and advocating for policies to address the issue. In 1979, he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Birkenhead, a position he held for four decades until his retirement in 2019.
During his time in Parliament, Lord Field held several ministerial positions, including Minister for Welfare Reform from 1998 to 2001. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing major reforms to the welfare system, including the introduction of Tax Credits and the New Deal program. Lord Field was also a vocal critic of poverty and inequality, and he led the Independent Review on Poverty and Life Chances in 2013. The review made a number of recommendations to tackle poverty and improve social mobility, and its findings continue to inform policy discussions today.
In addition to his ministerial roles, Lord Field chaired several parliamentary committees, including the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee from 1997 to 2015. As Chair of the Committee, he led influential inquiries into a wide range of social issues, including welfare, pensions, and employment. Lord Field was also heavily involved in the campaign to eradicate modern slavery, and he chaired the Joint Committee on the Draft Modern Slavery Bill in 2014-15. The Modern Slavery Act, which was passed in 2015, has been credited with strengthening the UK’s response to modern slavery and human trafficking.
Lord Field was a passionate advocate for social justice and poverty reduction, and he used his platform to speak out against inequality and injustice. He was a strong supporter of organizations working to tackle poverty, and he served on the boards of Cool Earth, Feeding Britain, and the Frank Field Education Trust. Lord Field was also a respected author, and he published several books on social policy, including ‘Making Poverty History’ and ‘The Value of Children’.
Lord Field’s death is a great loss to the world of politics and social activism. He was a dedicated public servant who made a significant contribution to improving the lives of others. He will be remembered for his passion, his intellect, and his unwavering commitment to social justice.
