Frank Field, a former Labour minister and crossbench peer, has died at the age of 81 after a period of illness, his family announced on Wednesday. Field served as a Member of Parliament for Birkenhead from 1979 to 2019. He also held several ministerial positions, including Minister for Welfare Reform, and chaired the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee. In 2020, he entered the House of Lords as the Rt Hon the Lord Field of Birkenhead. Field was known for his work on poverty and social issues, and was a member of the Child Poverty Action Group from 1969 to 1979. He continued to serve on the boards of Cool Earth, Feeding Britain, and the Frank Field Education Trust until his death. Field is survived by two brothers.