Tributes paid to former Labour MP Terry Fields

Jun 30 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

Labour MP Terry Fields _320

POLITICAL enemies last night united to pay tribute to former Labour MP Terry Fields who died at the weekend aged 71 following a short battle with cancer.

The left-winger, who represented Liverpool Broadgreen from 1983 to 1992 and was famously jailed for non-payment of poll tax, died at his home in Netherton on Saturday night.

Last night he was described as a "giant of the Labour movement" whose "ripples would be felt for a long time after he is gone".

Mr Fields, a former fireman, became well known in Liverpool politics in the 1970s, and lead the Fire Brigades Union in Merseyside during that decade.

In 1983 he was elected to the now defunct constituency of Liverpool Broadgreen in 1983 on the promise he would be "a worker's MP on a worker's wage".

A promise he kept, taking the equivalent of his fire fighter wage, and giving the rest of his MP salary to community causes and trade unions.

In July 1991 he was sent to Walton prison for 60 days for non-payment of poll tax.

In September that year was expelled from the Labour party over the matter and his Militant tendencies.
 
Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock said at the time: "Law makers must not be law breakers. I have always made that clear".

In 1992, he stood in the general election as an independent, and was defeated by Jane Kennedy who continues to be the MP for the seat now called Liverpool Wavertree.
 
He then virtually disappeared from public life following the defeat, but remained active in the community.
 
Last night his family said Mr Fields had been very active at his local St Benet's social club, which he was involved in the running of.
 
In 2002 he was thrust back into the public eye after running into a burning house, dragging a woman to safety on his way home from the club.
 
His youngest son Stephan, 37, said: "He was a true socialist who believed in the family and the power of his community and his class.