The Socialist Party sends condolences to the friend’s, family and comrades of Terry Fields. Terry was a member of the Militant Tendency in Britain and a brilliant representative of working people as a Labour MP between 1983 and 1992.

In 1983, Terry Fields stood as a candidate in the general elections promising that, should he win, he would be “a worker’s MP on a worker’s wage”.

He won the constituency, making Liverpool Broadgreen the only Labour takeover of a previously Conservative seat in that year’s election.

From the BBC website today -

Ex-MP Terry Fields dies aged 71

The former Liverpool Broadgreen MP Terry Fields has died at the age of 71.

The left-winger, who became a Labour MP in 1983, was jailed for 60 days in 1991 for refusing to pay his poll tax bill.

His kept his seat in the House of Commons but was expelled from the Labour Party in September of that year for his Militant tendencies.

In the general election the following year, he stood as an independent against Labour’s official candidate, Jane Kennedy, but lost.

Mr Fields, a former fireman, died at his family home in Netherton on Saturday night.

Also from the BBC website -

1991: Anti-poll tax MP jailed

Labour MP Terry Fields has been sentenced to 60 days in prison for refusing to pay his poll tax.

The MP for Liverpool Broadgreen since 1983, Mr Fields was summonsed last December for evading his £373 bill.

The left-wing, former fireman appeared shocked when judgement was passed at Bootle magistrates’ court but he managed a smile and a wave as he was taken to the cells amid cheers from the public gallery.

The MP was represented at the 90 minute hearing by barrister Hugo Charlton of the Campaign Against Poll Tax Imprisonment.

Although his sentence equals the two longest of the 35 prison terms for non-payment, it does not jeopardise his parliamentary seat or the Labour whip, which are only lost after a year’s imprisonment.

Labour sources suggest that his militant tendencies may well threaten his future.

His local Labour Party has already met to discuss his recent lack of support for Walton by-election candidate Peter Kilfoyle and his constituency chair, Barry Navarro, has hinted at his de-selection.

Colleagues on the left of the Commons have expressed their sympathies for Mr Field whose wife Maureen now has to wait until September to receive her sentence for non-payment.

Labour leader Neil Kinnock said: “Law makers must not be law breakers. I have always made that clear.”

See also this article from the Mirror and this article from the Liverpool Daily Post. The Liverpool Daily Post article also includes quotes from SP comrade Tony Mulhearn.