Field has had a reputation for being an intellectual, a free-thinker and a maverick in the Parliamentary Labour Party. Inspired by his Christianity, he has taken a much more socially conservative stance on various issues particularly on the family, antisocial behaviour, immigration and welfare reform. He has also embraced calls for an English Parliament and called for a renegotiation of Britain's relationship with European Union, including changes to free movement of labour. However, he voted for gay marriage and in favour liberal legislation on gay rights since 1997. He is a member of the advisory board of Reform and of the generally conservative but also "broad church" magazine "Standpoint". In May 2008, he said that Margaret Thatcher "is certainly a hero" and that "I still see Mrs T from time to time – I always call her 'Mrs T', when I talk to her."