Politics, Poverty and Belief: A Political Memoir

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The breadth and seriousness of this short, easy-to-read book is almost embarrassing. Other politicians’ memoirs are purely biographic because they have no philosophy; Field’s is stuffed with theology and a variety of compassion that is actually useful. Few MPs have done so much to improve the voters’ lives. This prophet was dishonoured in his own party, but thoughtful voters everywhere are grateful for his service. Field has spent his adult life fighting against poverty in Britain, through parliament and through his strong personal influence. Poverty for him has injustice at its root and as he explains in this book, he has found allies on all sides of the political spectrum. He was appointed by Tony Blair to be the Secretary of State for Pensions, but the reforms he advocated were so radical and essentially just, that Tony Blair could not contemplate them and Field stood down. Previously he had been Chairman of the Work and Pensions Select Committee under John Major. Field ran unsuccessfully against Labour in 2019, as the sole candidate of the Birkenhead Social Justice party. He doesn’t dwell on how his 40 years as an MP ended. “It’s strange, I just got on straight away,” he says. “I thought I could have been overwhelmed with despair but I wasn’t.”

I didn’t agree with his views. But I felt that they should be heard. No one thought he could win.” As he sets out in his book, the pair hardly spoke to each other, though they served on the same select committee for nine years. “Jeremy is a man of few words. He came up to me in the very early stages of the leadership contest and said, ‘Thank you for nominating me,’ and I said, ‘But I won’t be voting for you, Jeremy,’ and he said, ‘I wouldn’t expect you to.’” I call it low church Catholic; without any lace,” he smiles. “And without too much incense, as well.”She was wrong because she didn’t balance it. There was too much of the Fallen and not enough of the Redeemed. But what she said [about self-reliance] spoke to the nation during much of that period.” And his determination to call out corruption led him to become greatly admired by Baroness Thatcher. She was observed mingling with guests at a 1996 gathering at Westminster to celebrate Field’s 30 years in Parliament – six years after she was forced out of office in 1990. The great success of Field’s career has been to show what is possible if there is a sharp focus on a particular issue. He did this, first of all, with his work for the Child Poverty Action Group and Low Pay Unit, leading to child benefits and the minimum wage. Later, he campaigned against modern slavery and climate change. By focusing sharply on one issue, doing good research, gaining the support of influential people, and persevering, he has been a key player in movements that have brought about real change. He tells me that he spent most of his time trying to change the Labour Party and make it more electable, but, in fact, it was his commitment to the poor, coupled with his goodness and his integrity, that won allies across the political spectrum. He wonders if I have any faith, and I explain that any tiny sentimental attachment I had for the Church of England disappeared with the synod’s cruel muddle on same-sex relationships.

It was Frank’s conviction that “going to the top” was the obvious way to get things done that led to an unlikely friendship.

In the end, Field's zeal for reform was too much for too many people, and, in 2015, he was deselected by his own local Labour party. Politics, Poverty and Belief is an implicit indictment of modern British politics - the world of cash for questions, Partygate and all the rest - in which the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. For the past half-century Frank Field has been an outstanding parliamentarian, social reformer and champion of the disadvantaged.