Labour MP Frank Field is in hospital after collapsing at a meeting in Birkenhead last night . Veteran Labour MP Frank Field is in hospital after collapsing at a meeting yesterday evening . The 72-year-old apparently blacked out following a public meeting and was taken to hospital by ambulance . He had been at a meeting at Highfield Church on the future of the Rock Ferry High School site . Mr Field is being treated at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital . He is reportedly responding well to treatment . A witness told the Wirral Globe Mr Field appeared to have 'fainted ' as the debate grew heated . A Labour Party spokesman told the newspaper : 'He was taken to hospital last night . 'He is responding well to treatment . He will be making his own statement in due course . ' A statement on the Save Rock Ferry High School Facebook page reported Mr Field said : 'Thankfully , I was told he was sitting up and OK but he was being taken to hospital for a check up . ' I also saw the ambulance arrive so that is likely to have been the case . 'Other than that , we know nothing and share your concern . ' It added : 'We wish Mr Field well and a speedy recovery . ' Mr Field , who was born in London , was first elected to the Commons in 1979 . Previously , he was the first director of pressure group The Child Poverty Action , from 1969 to 1979 . He was famously told to 'think the unthinkable ' by Tony Blair while welfare reform minister . He resigned later after reported clashes with Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman . He went on to become one of the Labour Government 's most outspoken critics . After the party 's defeat in the 2010 general election , he was appointed Prime Minister David Cameron 's poverty tsar and became the first member of the Labour party to be given a role in Cameron 's team . Mr Field ( pictured outside Parliament ) is being treated at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital . He is reportedly responding well to treatment .
The 72-year-old apparently blacked out following a heated debate last night . He is responding well to treatment , according to the Labour party spokesman .