Tony Blair leads tributes to Frank Field, ‘an independent thinker always pushing at the frontier of new ideas’
Good morning. Tony Blair, the former Labour figure, has been among the many figures this morning paying tribute to Frank Field, the former Labour MP and campaigner against poverty, who has died at the age of 81, after a long illness.
Field was appointed minister for welfare reform when Blair became prime minister in 1997. It was a surprise appointment, because Field had not been a frontbencher and his proposals for welfare (often hard to place on a conventional left/right spectrum) were generally assumed to be too radical for his party. And so it proved; he clashed with Gordon Brown, the chancellor, and was out of office within about a year.
But Field is a good example of how politicians don’t have to be in government to make a difference. As director of the Child Poverty Action Group before he became an MP and as a backbencher, particularly as chair of the social security select committtee before Labour took power in 1997 and as a chair of the work and pensions select committee during the Brexit years, he had a huge influence on debates on welfare policy for decades.
And at a time when members of the public despair at the quality of MPs, he was a model of integrity and commitment to public: a person of deep faith, passionate and tireless when it came working on behalf of those, much liked, and capable of working with colleagues from all parties.
Blair said of him this morning.
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.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, has also released this tribute.
As a former colleague, I watched in admiration as Frank Field navigated a career as a formidable MP, and as a minister, tasked with ‘thinking the unthinkable’ on social care.
He was neither cowed by the establishment or whips – which made his campaigns against hunger and food poverty, for climate change and the church, even more effective.
He was the driving force behind Parliament’s commitment to prevent slavery and human trafficking within our supply chains. Having worked with him on the modern slavery advisory group, and made him its chair, I am in no doubt his efforts saved many lives nationwide from this shameful criminal activity.
Suffice to say, he was one of a kind and he will be sorely missed.
I will post more tributes soon.
Here is the agenda for the day.
12pm: Oliver Dowden, deputy prime minister, faces Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader, at PMQs.
12.45pm: Rishi Sunak holds a press conference in Berlin with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
After 12.45pm: MPs resume their debate on the renters (reform) bill.
And David Cameron, the foreign secretary, is flying to Kazakhstan as he continues his tour of Central Asia.
If you want to contact me, do use the “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a laptop or a desktop. This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting, too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line; privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate); or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.
Key events
PCS union says it will fight ‘tooth and nail’ against Tory plans to cut civil service jobs
The government says it will fund its proposed increase in defence spending (see 10.38am) partly by getting rid of 72,000 civil service jobs. Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, told Times Radio this morning:
That actually will take the civil service back to where it was before Covid, so I think that is a very reasonable thing to do.
Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, which represents civil servants, said the PCS would fight these plans “tooth and nail”. He said:
Yet again ministers shamefully see fit to scapegoat their own workforce.
It’s not right for our members to pay for a rise in defence spending with their jobs, so we’ll fight these proposals tooth and nail, just as we fought them under Boris Johnson.
Ben Zaranko, an economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies thinktank, has criticised the government for presenting its pledge to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as a £75bn increase. He posted these on X.
It’s only a “£75 billion increase” over 6 years if you assume that spending would otherwise have been frozen in cash terms for 6 years – i.e. only if the government was, until today, planning to breach its NATO commitments. This is such an unhelpful way to present the figures. https://t.co/OI1q1Zzica
— Ben Zaranko (@BenZaranko) April 23, 2024
It’s only a “£75 billion increase” over 6 years if you assume that spending would otherwise have been frozen in cash terms for 6 years – i.e. only if the government was, until today, planning to breach its NATO commitments. This is such an unhelpful way to present the figures
To get the £75 billion number, the government has assumed a baseline with spending frozen in cash terms and then added up all of the differences. If you instead assume a baseline of spending frozen as a % GDP, it’s an extra £20 billion over 6 years. Details here. pic.twitter.com/psKbaKbVSP
— Ben Zaranko (@BenZaranko) April 23, 2024
To get the £75 billion number, the government has assumed a baseline with spending frozen in cash terms and then added up all of the differences. If you instead assume a baseline of spending frozen as a % GDP, it’s an extra £20 billion over 6 years. Details here.
To make matters worse, when briefing the press the government said that this would “only” cost £4.4 billion in 2028/29. That assumes a baseline of 2.3% of GDP and so is inconsistent with the £75 billion number. They’re just picking whichever baseline suits best.
— Ben Zaranko (@BenZaranko) April 23, 2024
To make matters worse, when briefing the press the government said that this would “only” cost £4.4 billion in 2028/29. That assumes a baseline of 2.3% of GDP and so is inconsistent with the £75 billion number. They’re just picking whichever baseline suits best.
Keir Starmer has said the death of Frank Field is “a profound loss to politics and to our nation”. In a tribute to the former minister, Starmer went on:
Frank dedicated his life to being a voice for the most vulnerable and marginalised people in the country.
Frank was principled, courageous, and independent-minded. He cared about the people he served, thought deeply about the issues he championed, and worked entirely for the good of the people of Birkenhead as their MP for 40 years. His honour and integrity were well known and admired.
On behalf of the Labour party, my thoughts are with his family.
All Nato nations should match UK’s defence spending target, says Shapps
All Nato countries should boost their defence spending to 2.5% of their GDP to meet the demands of a “more dangerous world”, Grant Shapps, the defence secretary, has said. Aletha Adu has the story here.
And here are more tributes to Frank Field from people who worked with him or knew him professionally.
From Alastair Campbell, the podcaster, writer and former No 10 communications director
Sad to hear Frank Field has died. A good man driven by convictions that never wavered. Perhaps more suited to life as a campaigner and policy thought leader than as minister but he could look back on a life well lived and a political career that made a difference. RIP
— ALASTAIR CAMPBELL (@campbellclaret) April 24, 2024
From the former Downing Street adviser John McTernan
Sad news about the death of Frank Field. A rare politician.
He brought a sense of fun to politics.
I remember him saying that his Tory predecessor as minister in DWP had left behind a fine wine cellars – “It would be a shame to waste it, wouldn’t it John!”
He will be missed!
— John McTernan (@johnmcternan) April 24, 2024
From the journalist Philip Collins
In 1989 I went for an interview with a Labour MP. We discussed the Anglican church service, about which I knew a bit and he knew a lot. I got the job over the naifs who tried to talk politics. Frank Field became my boss and in time my friend. Fare thee well, Frank.
— Philip Collins (@PhilipJCollins1) April 24, 2024
From the former Daily Mirror journalist Ben Glaze
Did a fair bit of work with Frank Field on foodbanks when I was @DailyMirror . Always so friendly and lovely. Genuinely decent chap.
— Ben Glaze (@benglaze) April 24, 2024
From the broadcaster Paul Lewis
I once went to interview Frank Field when he was a DWP Minister. The only Minister I’ve ever interviewed at his office who came down the stairs to reception to meet me rather than sending an aid. Not because it was me. It was what he did.
— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) April 24, 2024
From the BBC’s education editor Branwen Jeffreys
When I started work for the BBC on Merseyside Frank Field was already known as a fierce and radical thinker – deeply concerned about poverty – and unafraid to challenge orthodoxy. The kind of MP that every political party needs https://t.co/KGDfPf8qj9
— branwen jeffreys (@branwenjeffreys) April 24, 2024
UK accused by Amnesty of ‘deliberately destabilising’ human rights globally
The UK has been accused by Amnesty International of “deliberately destabilising” human rights on the global stage for its own political ends. As Karen McVeigh reports, in its annual global report, released today, Amnesty said Britain was weakening human rights protections nationally and globally, amid a near-breakdown of international law. Here is Karen’s full story.
Here are tributes to Frank Field from MPs, former MPs and peers.
From Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary
Rest in peace, Frank Field. A great parliamentarian, crusader for social justice and source of wise counsel. What a blessing to have known him and benefited from his advice and kindness, even as his illness gripped him. Deepest condolences to all who knew and loved him.
— Wes Streeting MP (@wesstreeting) April 24, 2024
From Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the home affairs committee
Frank Field was simply a good decent human being. A @UniOfHull graduate, he was always kind, generous with his time and passionate on eradicating poverty. We worked together on the contaminated blood scandal and modern slavery, about which he cared deeply over many years. RIP pic.twitter.com/VWfTtzX6gJ
— Diana Johnson DBE MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦🌈 (@DianaJohnsonMP) April 24, 2024
From Margaret Hodge, the former Labour minister and former chair of the Commons public accounts committee
Frank Field was an exceptional campaigner and politician who made an enormous contribution to tackling poverty and disadvantage. From CPAG to Parliament he showed complete fearless integrity and was never afraid of speaking out with radical ideas. We will all miss him
— Margaret Hodge (@margarethodge) April 24, 2024
From Nadhim Zahawi, the Tory former chancellor
Frank Field was a giant, in the way MPs should be. As soon as I was made Children’s & Families Minister. He made a beeline for me & showed me what a holiday activities & food program can do to transform kids lives.
— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) April 24, 2024
From John Mann, the peer and former Labour MP
Frank Field. A good and kind friend. We saw the world through different lenses , yet regularly reached the same vision. A man of deep faith, never an evangelist, ending food poverty amongst children should be how #Labour celebrates his life.
— John Mann (@LordJohnMann) April 24, 2024
From Steve Webb, the former Lib Dem pensions minister
Very sorry to read of the death of Frank Field. He will be remembered for many things but as well as encouraging me early in my career I think of his work in defence of BHS pension scheme members which made a huge difference
— Steve Webb (@stevewebb1) April 24, 2024
From Angela Eagle, the Labour MP whose Liverpool constituency was next to Field’s.
Very sad news. Always supportive of me as his Parliamentary neighbour, brimming with ideas to make society better – a great champion of his Birkenhead constituents: RIP Frank
Frank Field , former Labour minister and anti-poverty campaigner, dies aged 81 https://t.co/4iXt8jDs4q— Angela Eagle DBE (@angelaeagle) April 24, 2024
From the former Tory minister Tracey Crouch
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 💔🪽
— Tracey Crouch (@tracey_crouch) April 24, 2024
From John Glen, the Cabinet Office minister
I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my dear friend Frank Field – an inspiring figure in British politics for over 45 years – we worked together on the APPG for Hunger and Food Poverty and he visited Salisbury to show support in the aftermath of the 2018 Novichok attack pic.twitter.com/jSlvzzjoSh
— John Glen MP (@JohnGlenUK) April 24, 2024
From Priti Patel, the former Tory home secretary
My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Frank Field. Frank was a kind and compassionate man and a great Parliamentarian.
His unwavering moral compass, commitment to working cross-party and unshakable principles defined him and will be greatly missed. pic.twitter.com/f7Lc0VFhJs
— Priti Patel MP (@pritipatel) April 24, 2024
From Sarah Champion, Labour chair of the interntional development committee
From Labour MP Karen Buck
This is sad news. Frank was such a huge, fascinating, complex character. You didn’t have to always agree with him to enjoy working with him, and to be full of admiration for his passion, energy, humour, commitment and expertise. A true giant in his field. https://t.co/LagCYoyX9s
— Karen Buck (@KarenPBuckMP) April 24, 2024
From the Tory former minister Tim Loughton
Very sorry to hear the sad news about Frank Field. He was the nicest of MPs always ready to work across party to tackle the burning social justice issues that he so passionately advocated. Always ready to offer sound advice and friendship. We will miss him https://t.co/NCp1Hijdai
— Tim Loughton MP 🇺🇦 (@timloughton) April 24, 2024
From Zac Goldsmith, the Tory former Foreign Office minister
It was a privilege to have known & worked closely with Frank in the 10 yrs I was an MP. He was in many respects the model MP- independent minded, compassionate, intelligent & courageous
Frank Field obituary: free spirit devoted to helping the poorhttps://t.co/agdUr3u0rL
— Zac Goldsmith (@ZacGoldsmith) April 24, 2024
Tony Blair leads tributes to Frank Field, ‘an independent thinker always pushing at the frontier of new ideas’
Good morning. Tony Blair, the former Labour figure, has been among the many figures this morning paying tribute to Frank Field, the former Labour MP and campaigner against poverty, who has died at the age of 81, after a long illness.
Field was appointed minister for welfare reform when Blair became prime minister in 1997. It was a surprise appointment, because Field had not been a frontbencher and his proposals for welfare (often hard to place on a conventional left/right spectrum) were generally assumed to be too radical for his party. And so it proved; he clashed with Gordon Brown, the chancellor, and was out of office within about a year.
But Field is a good example of how politicians don’t have to be in government to make a difference. As director of the Child Poverty Action Group before he became an MP and as a backbencher, particularly as chair of the social security select committtee before Labour took power in 1997 and as a chair of the work and pensions select committee during the Brexit years, he had a huge influence on debates on welfare policy for decades.
And at a time when members of the public despair at the quality of MPs, he was a model of integrity and commitment to public: a person of deep faith, passionate and tireless when it came working on behalf of those, much liked, and capable of working with colleagues from all parties.
Blair said of him this morning.
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.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, has also released this tribute.
As a former colleague, I watched in admiration as Frank Field navigated a career as a formidable MP, and as a minister, tasked with ‘thinking the unthinkable’ on social care.
He was neither cowed by the establishment or whips – which made his campaigns against hunger and food poverty, for climate change and the church, even more effective.
He was the driving force behind Parliament’s commitment to prevent slavery and human trafficking within our supply chains. Having worked with him on the modern slavery advisory group, and made him its chair, I am in no doubt his efforts saved many lives nationwide from this shameful criminal activity.
Suffice to say, he was one of a kind and he will be sorely missed.
I will post more tributes soon.
Here is the agenda for the day.
12pm: Oliver Dowden, deputy prime minister, faces Angela Rayner, deputy Labour leader, at PMQs.
12.45pm: Rishi Sunak holds a press conference in Berlin with the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
After 12.45pm: MPs resume their debate on the renters (reform) bill.
And David Cameron, the foreign secretary, is flying to Kazakhstan as he continues his tour of Central Asia.
If you want to contact me, do use the “send us a message” feature. You’ll see it just below the byline – on the left of the screen, if you are reading on a laptop or a desktop. This is for people who want to message me directly. I find it very useful when people message to point out errors (even typos – no mistake is too small to correct). Often I find your questions very interesting, too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either in the comments below the line; privately (if you leave an email address and that seems more appropriate); or in the main blog, if I think it is a topic of wide interest.
