Labour can ill afford to lose Frank Field’s dedication to relieving poverty
sir – Frank Field’s particular passion is the relief of poverty, and finding a way to achieve this through the mechanisms of the benefit system. He has been thinking about this and working on it his entire adult life.
While Jeremy Corbyn has spent his time grandstanding with various foreign terrorists and revolutionaries, Mr Field has dedicated himself to practical issues of rather more relevance to his constituents.
It seems there is no longer space for a man like him in Mr Corbyn’s Labour Party. More fools they. Toby Roberts
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
sir – Frank Field represents the remains of old Labour that governed after the war and brought us the NHS – the party that many of us believed in and voted for. Paul Brazier
Kingswood, Gloucestershire
sir – On the other side of the Atlantic much is being made of the late John Mccain’s integrity, his 40 years’ independent-minded service in the Senate, and his ability to work with people outside his party if it furthered good causes he supported. The cold reaction of President Donald Trump to his death has been noted too.
Frank Field, thankfully, is still with us, but in many ways he is a similar person to Senator Mccain, a man widely respected outside his own party for his commitment to the poorer and more vulnerable members of our society. His resignation from the Parliamentary Labour Party is a great loss to them, but the reaction of Jeremy Corbyn was dismissive, as if it were a matter of no importance, and that of his allies has been vindictive.
There are good people in Labour and it is time for them to support Frank Field and take back control of their party before it is too late. James Pullen
St Ives, Huntingdonshire
sir – As one of 35 Labour MPS to have nominated Jeremy Corbyn for the leadership of their party, Frank Field himself spawned its takeover by Momentum’s Marxist extremists.
Rather than putting a nail in the coffin of Left-wing fanaticism in 2015, he chose to “have a debate” and paved the way for its resurrection. He should be ashamed of himself. Christopher Healy
North Ferriby, East Yorkshire
sir – Congratulations to Frank Field for having the courage to resign the Labour whip in protest at the leadership becoming “a force for anti-semitism”. Let’s hope more Labour MPS do likewise. Those who do not must be considered to be in sympathy with Mr Corbyn.
A J C Gorman
Ickenham, Middlesex
sir – Some years ago, Theresa May said the Conservatives had become the nasty party. Labour is now the disgusting party. Andrew Dyke
London N21