As chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, he oversaw reports which found universal credit had pushed people into financial difficulty and that the country was failing victims of modern slavery.
His final report as chair found “no government should be willing” to accept the consequences of the two-child benefit limit – a cap Keir Starmer has not pledged to scrap if elected.
Alison Garnham, the chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group said Field paved the way for minimum wage and free school meals during his time as director, and was to thank for the introduction of child benefit and the concept of the “poverty trap”.
“Frank was a steadfast, highly successful and diligent campaigner against child poverty,” said Garnham.
“Frank was a true champion for children and low-income families and with child poverty at a record high today, families need his like as never before. He will be greatly missed.”
Speaking to Times Radio, Labour’s shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said: “I think there are probably people in this country who are better off today because of the work of Frank Field.”
Meanwhile House of Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle remarked in his own tribute how he “watched in admiration as Frank Field navigated his career as a formidable MP, and as a minister, tasked with ‘thinking the unthinkable’ on social care”.
“He was never cowed by the establishment whips,” he continued, “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 without our supply chains. Having work 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.”
Outside parliament, Field co-founded the Cool Earth charity and was director of the Child Poverty Action Group until 1979. During his four decades in the house he also set up the all-party parliamentary group on hunger and food poverty.
Field resigned the Labour whip in 2018 and then lost his seat in the 2019 election after standing for his newly-founded Birkenhead Social Justice Party. He was then elevated to the House of Lords in 2020.
Politicians from across the spectrum paid tribute to Field, including former Conservative home secretary Priti Patel, who said: “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.”
Former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said on X: “Frank was a friend and although in a different party, that didn’t stop exchange of ideas on a number of issues, particularly welfare reform.”
In 2021, Field revealed a terminal cancer diagnosis, with fellow peer Molly Meacher reading a speech on his behalf announcing his support for assisted dying.
In a statement, his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Frank Field, Lord Field of Birkenhead. Through a long battle with cancer, Frank Field remained a resilient and engaged life until the end. He will be enormously missed by his family and wide circle of friends.
“Frank was an extraordinary individual who spent his life fighting poverty, injustice and environmental destruction. His decency and faith in people’s self-interested altruism made a unique contribution to British politics.
“After 40 years of dedicated public service, Frank will be mourned by admirers across the political divide. But above all, he will be deeply missed by those lucky enough to have enjoyed his laughter and friendship.”
