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Frank Field was that uncommon factor in politics – an MP who was close to sufficient universally revered round the home. He died final week after some protracted and painful years dwelling with most cancers. You could not have heard of him. But you probably have, you then would nearly positively disagree with him on one thing! He took positions that have been stunning, given his place on the centre left of the Labour party. He was, nevertheless, universally thought-about to be the very mannequin of a public servant.
Frank was born to a household of working class Conservatives, and he went on to change into a Labour MP for 40 years till 2019, when he was deselected by his native party and misplaced his seat. His abiding conviction and motivation was to be an advocate for the poor, and he didn’t budge on this for all the numerous years he spent in Parliament.
He took many alternative roles in his time, however he excelled at none greater than as a backbench MP. He campaigned on baby poverty and low paid work for a few years, lengthy earlier than the arrival of the minimal wage. He labored doggedly and virtually towards local weather change, starting his personal charity ‘Cool Earth’ to empower indigenous communities to guard rainforests.
He so usually held views that did not match with expectations. He publicly supported nationwide service and Brexit, he opposed the EU mannequin of immigration, and stunned many by nominating Jeremy Corbyn in his profitable run for the Labour management. He each opposed rising entry to abortion, and but supported rising entry to assisted dying.
As you’ll be able to see, there was quite a bit on which I disagreed with him, however you knew he would inform you the reality, whether or not you needed to listen to it or not. Rumour has it, he advised Mrs Thatcher that her time was up and she or he actually must resign on the week that she did so, out of exasperation that her personal cupboard couldn’t say it to her face. Needless to say, his blunt honesty received him in bother with many Labour leaders too.
So, deep rooted convictions, a deep rooted group presence, unflinching honesty, an unbiased thoughts, endurance for the lengthy haul, and the persistence and humility to recognise you may not set the world on fireplace, however you might however do some good. These qualities make for an outstanding public servant and it’s what we must always search to study from Frank’s instance.
I’m drawn to this as we look forward to the native elections this week. I didn’t know Frank properly, however persistently spoke of a Christian religion that undergirded all of his work.
What if each native council had Christians who served with the form of qualities Frank displayed? What if the selections have been made by individuals who unashamedly wept at tales of constituents skipping meals, who took no nonsense and did not thoughts pointing it out, who held themselves with civility and professionalism, who largely prevented PR and as a substitute put within the laborious yards of loving a constituency wholeheartedly.
Frank was mentioned to have solely travelled round Birkenhead by foot and by bus. That says an terrible lot concerning the man.
Let’s pray for extra Frank Fields at each stage of our politics, and for a couple of extra to be elected on Thursday. Every stage of presidency accountability will really feel restricted by place, circumstance, means, and time. But what can we do with the little we’re entrusted with? In Luke 16:10, Jesus says “Whoever will be trusted with little or no will also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with little or no can even be dishonest with a lot.” Something we will say is that Frank Field was trustworthy together with his little.
Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005, and served because the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party from 2015 to 2017. Tim can be the host of Premier’s A Mucky Business’ podcast, which unpacks the murky world of politics and encourages believers across the UK to interact prayerfully. He is the writer of A Mucky Business: Why Christians ought to get entangled in politics.
