Daniel Francis (politician) explained

Daniel Francis
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office:Member of Parliament
for Bexleyheath and Crayford
Term Start:4 July 2024
Predecessor:David Evennett
Majority:2,114 (4.9%)
Office1:Member of Bexley London Borough Council for Belvedere
Term Start1:22 May 2014
Office2:Member of Bexley London Borough Council for Belvedere
Term Start2:28 September 2000
Term End2:6 May 2010
Party:Labour

Daniel Francis is a British Labour Party politician who has been MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford since 2024.[1] He has served on Bexley Council as the councillor for the Belvedere ward from 2000 to 2010, and since 2014.[2]

Political career

Belvedere Councillor

The Belvedere ward of the London Borough of Bexley held a councillor by-election in September 2000 due to a resignation, where Francis was elected with 55% of the vote.[3] He won re-election in the subsequent 2002 and 2006 elections. During the 2010 council election, he instead ran for the Northumberland Heath ward where he lost. Returning to Belvedere ward, he successfully ran in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 elections.

Francis was the Cabinet Member for Transport and successfully fought for the extension of the Elizabeth line to Abbey Wood, and saved Welling to Victoria train services.[4]

He led the Labour group in Bexley Council from 2017 to 2021, and is currently the Shadow cabinet member for Finance and Corporate Services.

Parliamentary ambitions

Francis was the Labour party candidate in the 2021 Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election, where he lost to the Conservative party's Louie French. He won in the Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency in the 2024 United Kingdom general election, swinging it to Labour for the first time since 2005.

Personal life

Francis was educated at Bexley Grammar School. He is married, and has two children.

He is interested in supporting children with disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

Notes and References

  1. News: Bexleyheath and Crayford - General election results 2024 . BBC News . 5 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Councillor Daniel Francis - Bexley Labour Group. Bexley Labour. 5 July 2024.
  3. Web site: London Borough Council Elections 2 May 2002. London Datastore. Greater London Authority. 5 July 2024.
  4. Web site: Bexleyheath and Crayford Labour Party candidate selected. News Shopper. 22 May 2024 . 5 July 2024.