Tribute to Frank Field from Steve Webb
Paying tribute to Frank Field, whose death was announced by his family today, Sir Steve Webb, pensions minister 2010-15 and partner at LCP said:
“The world of Parliament, pensions and public life is lessened today by the loss of Frank Field. I first met Frank more than 30 years ago when I was a young economist and his support and engagement first got me involved in the world of Westminster. Although Frank was passionate about all the causes he believed in, he was not a ‘tribal’ politician and was willing to work with people of all parties in support of causes that he believed in. Frank set the gold standard for how to run an all-party Select Committee. As Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee he used his position to hold the powerful to account and was particularly effective in support of members of the BHS pension scheme.
“Frank had that rare combination of compassion, anger about injustice and deep policy expertise which made him such an effective campaigner. His campaigning spanned early work with the Child Poverty Action Group to working for pensions justice on a range of issues in Parliament. He was valued around the House of Commons and his contributions were always listened to with respect. He will be much missed.”