Politics, Poverty and Belief
A Political Memoir
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Politics, Poverty and Belief
Narrated by:
Jonathan Keeble
Buy Now for £11.83
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Keeble
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By:
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Frank Field
For the past half-century Frank Field has been an outstanding parliamentarian, social reformer and champion of the disadvantaged. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 16 and was expelled from it at the age of 78.' -Brian & Rachel Griffiths
'Frank Field is one of the most important, iconoclastic and remarkable politicians of his generation. This book is told with his Christian belief, regrets and all, and his trademark searing honesty.' -Nick Timmins
In the increasingly dirty world of British politics, one man has stood out for unimpeachable integrity – the former Labour Member of Parliament for Birkenhead, Frank Field.
In this touching but also profound memoir, the veteran former Labour MP and social campaigner Frank Field reveals the poverty of his own childhood and the deep and lasting effect of his Christian socialism.
Field has spent his life fighting poverty in Britain, and has found allies on all sides of the political spectrum. In this book, Field talk about his activism, his foundational work with the Child Poverty Action Group and his work passing legislation for the Minimum Living Wage. He explains why he has dedicated his life to speaking out against the corruption of greed and power and writes with great alacrity about the titans of his political age, including Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher. 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.©2023 Frank Field (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic reviews
Frank Field is one of the most important, iconoclastic and remarkable politicians of his generation. This book is told with his Christian belief, regrets and all, and his trademark searing honesty. (Nick Timmins)
For the past half-century Frank Field has been an outstanding parliamentarian, social reformer and champion of the disadvantaged. He joined the Labour Party at the age of 16 and was expelled from it at the age of 78. (Brian & Rachel Griffiths)
The former MP’s outstanding new book blends memoir with incisive, practical ideas. [...] 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. (Tim Stanley, The Telegraph)
Field has been a kindly light to lighten our politics. One wishes more MPs were as amiable and independent-minded, though every system does need its scoundrels and chancers. (Quentin Letts, The Times)
Field is a salutary role-model for those of us who tend to be politically or religiously tribal. (Richard Harries, the Church Times)
Inspirational!
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Frank Field has been inspirational and changed so much for so many!
Always an inspiration
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I always believed Mr Fields to be one of the most honourable men in politics. A person conservative AND Labour politicians always turned to him to see the right path to take, although not always believed.
I admire his collusion with Ian Duncan Smith when he tried to modernise the benefit system, and no doubt if Mr Smith had taken his advice we may have had a short painful period that would eventually bring forth the required gains.
His right against the hard left momentum tribe took some guts, as did his fight against anti-semitism.
He will be remembered for all these things, and I would suggest that some future party may have to implement his works, just to pay old age pensions.
I had to have at least 45 years paying national insurance, where the MODERN brood only pay 30yrs contributions (how does that redress national pension pots)?
I always thought it was Margaret Thatcher who thought of selling council house stock, how wrong was I!!
Pity the funds raised weren't plugged back into system to improve the existing stock AND go towards building more private housing.
Frank Fields is a giant of a politician, and now we have to think the unthinkable about being without such a great character AND politician.
Bless you Frank Fields, you are a hero to power and middle class people and their aspirstions.
A True Statesman of Every Working Person in the UK
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Sorry Frank, I was really wanting to love it.
Dull as dish water
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