Hywel Francis
{{Short description|British politician (1946–2021)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Hywel Francis MP.jpg
| caption = Francis as an MP
| office = Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights
| term_start = 8 September 2010
| term_end = 30 March 2015
| predecessor = Andrew Dismore
| successor = Harriet Harman
| office1 = Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee
| term_start1 = 13 July 2005
| term_end1 = 6 May 2010
| predecessor1 = Martyn Jones
| successor1 = David T. C. Davies
| parliament2 = United Kingdom
| constituency_MP2 = Aberavon
| majority2 =
| predecessor2 = John Morris
| successor2 = Stephen Kinnock
| term_start2 = 7 June 2001
| term_end2 = 30 March 2015
| birth_name = David Hywel Francis
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|06|06|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Neath, Glamorgan, Wales
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2021|02|14|1946|06|06}}
| death_place = Morriston, Swansea, Wales
| party = Labour
| spouse = {{marriage|Mair Price|1968}}
| relations =
| children = 3
| parents = Dai Francis (father)
| alma_mater = Swansea University
| profession = {{hlist|Historian|adult educator|politician}}
| website = {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20150401004454/http://www.hywelfrancis.co.uk/}}
}}
David Hywel Francis{{London Gazette |issue=59418 |date=13 May 2010 |page=8747}} (6 June 1946 – 14 February 2021) was a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Aberavon from 2001 to 2015. A member of the Labour Party, he chaired the Welsh Affairs Committee from 2005 to 2010 and the Joint Committee on Human Rights from 2010 to 2015.{{cite web |title=Parliamentary career for Dr Hywel Francis |website=MPs and Lords |publisher=UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1382/career |access-date=14 March 2021}}
Background
Hywel Francis attended Whitchurch Grammar School and Llangatwg Secondary School. He studied at the University of Wales, Swansea, where he earned a doctorate in history. Francis continued to work at the University of Wales as a professor in Adult Continuing Education before being elected in 2001. At the University of Wales, he founded the South Wales Miners' Library. He also was the chair of the Wales Congress in Support of Mining Communities.{{cite web | website=ePolitix.com |title= Hywel Francis | url=http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Hywel+Francis/25B8E73B-8FA8-40C6-85CB-218E09DA17C6.htm | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120210857/http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Hywel+Francis/25B8E73B-8FA8-40C6-85CB-218E09DA17C6.htm | archive-date=20 November 2006 | url-status=usurped }} Francis was a speaker of the Welsh language.
Francis was a member of the Gorsedd Cymru from 1986. He was made vice-president of Carers UK and honorary parliamentary patron of the adult learners' body, NIACE. He was a trustee of the Paul Robeson Wales Trust and the Bevan Foundation he founded. He was the South Wales Miners' Museum president. He authored many peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and several books. His books include: {{citeref|Francis|Smith|1980|style=plain |The Fed}} (co-author, Dai Smith) in 1980 (reprinted in 1998{{cite book |last1=Francis |first1=Hywel |title={{title case|The Fed: a history of the South Wales miners in the twentieth century}} |date=1998 |publisher=University of Wales Press |location=Cardiff |isbn=978-0-7083-1422-7 |edition=New in pbk. with new pref}}); {{citeref|Francis|1984|style=plain |Miners Against Fascism}} in 1984; {{citeref|Francis|1999|style=plain |Wales: A Learning Country}} in 1999; {{citeref|Francis|2009|style=plain |History on Our Side}} in 2009; and {{citeref|Francis|Williams|2013|style=plain |Do Miners Read Dickens?}} (co-author, Siân Williams) in 2013. Francis is featured in the documentary film After Coal.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}}
He was the son of Dai Francis, who led the South Wales NUM during the industrial unrest of the 1970s. Like his father, he had been a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain.{{cn|date=March 2021}}
Political career
In 1999, Francis became a special adviser to Paul Murphy, the Secretary of State for Wales; Murphy worked in this position until 2000. The following year, he was elected to the House of Commons.{{cite web|title=Dr Hywel Francis MP |url=http://www.hywelfrancis.co.uk/biography.htm |accessdate=17 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503101123/http://www.hywelfrancis.co.uk/biography.htm |archivedate=3 May 2008 }} He was re-elected in May 2005. He was the chair of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee from 2005 to 2010; chair of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on Archives and History, formerly chair of the APPG on Steel and Cast Metal; and chair of the All-Party Carers Group.
Francis voted in favour of a bill that banned smoking in restaurants in April 2003.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Apr 2003 (pt 15) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030414/debtext/30414-15.htm#30414-15_div162 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630224840/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030414/debtext/30414-15.htm#30414-15_div162 | archive-date=30 June 2007 | url-status=live }} In December 2004 and October 2005, he voted in favour of the Identity Cards Bill.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 20 Dec 2004 (pt 42) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo041220/debtext/41220-42.htm#41220-42_div24 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131524/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo041220/debtext/41220-42.htm#41220-42_div24 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }}{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 18 Oct 2005 (pt 35) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051018/debtext/51018-35.htm#51018-35_div60 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131539/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051018/debtext/51018-35.htm#51018-35_div60 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }} In March 2002, he voted to ban the hunting of wild mammals with dogs.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 18 Mar 2002 (pt 40) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020318/debtext/20318-40.htm#20318-40_div199 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523034243/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020318/debtext/20318-40.htm#20318-40_div199 | archive-date=23 May 2007 | url-status=live }} He voted in favour of the NHS foundation trust proposal.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 8 Jul 2003 (pt 27) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030708/debtext/30708-27.htm#30708-27_div280 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131459/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030708/debtext/30708-27.htm#30708-27_div280 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }} He also voted in favour of allowing unmarried heterosexual and homosexual couples to adopt,{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Nov 2002 (pt 28) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo021104/debtext/21104-28.htm#21104-28_div345 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131454/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo021104/debtext/21104-28.htm#21104-28_div345 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }} and in favour of the Civil Partnership Bill.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 12 Oct 2004 (pt 34) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo041012/debtext/41012-34.htm#41012-34_div256 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630192558/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo041012/debtext/41012-34.htm#41012-34_div256 | archive-date=30 June 2007 | url-status=live }} Francis voted in favour of the replacement of the Trident system.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 14 Mar 2007 (pt 0022) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070314/debtext/70314-0022.htm#07031475002466 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131544/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070314/debtext/70314-0022.htm#07031475002466 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }}
He voted in favour of adding clauses to a bill that allow the Secretary of State{{Which|date=March 2021}} to detain indefinitely, pending deportation, anyone he{{Who|date=March 2021}} suspects is a terrorist, even if the law forbids that person's deportation from ever taking place.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 21 Nov 2001 (pt 28) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011121/debtext/11121-28.htm#11121-28_div76 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070827013607/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011121/debtext/11121-28.htm#11121-28_div76 | archive-date=27 August 2007 | url-status=live }} He voted against only allowing people detained at a police station to be fingerprinted and searched for an identifying birthmark if it is in connection with a terrorism investigation.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 26 Nov 2001 (pt 30) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011126/debtext/11126-30.htm#11126-30_div82 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131449/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011126/debtext/11126-30.htm#11126-30_div82 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }} He voted against changing the text in the Prevention of Terrorism Bill from "The Secretary of State may make a control order against an individual" to "The Secretary of State may {{em|apply to the court}} for a control order [...]".{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 28 Feb 2005 (pt 40) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050228/debtext/50228-40.htm#50228-40_div101 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070826160700/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmhansrd/vo050228/debtext/50228-40.htm#50228-40_div101 | archive-date=26 August 2007 | url-status=live }}
In March 2003, he voted that the case had not yet been made for war against Iraq.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 18 Mar 2003 (pt 47) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030318/debtext/30318-47.htm#30318-47_div117 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123101047/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030318/debtext/30318-47.htm#30318-47_div117 | archive-date=23 November 2011 | url-status=live }} In June 2003, he voted against a motion that would have recalled the Prime Minister's assertion that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction that could be used at 45 minutes' notice, and against launching an independent inquiry into the intelligence received and the decisions that were based on it.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Jun 2003 (pt 25) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030604/debtext/30604-25.htm#30604-25_div217 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703064015/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo030604/debtext/30604-25.htm#30604-25_div217 | archive-date=3 July 2007 | url-status=live }} In June 2007, he voted against a motion calling for an independent inquiry by a committee of privy counsellors into the Iraq War.{{cite web | title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 11 Jun 2007 (pt 0015) | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070611/debtext/70611-0015.htm#07061179001224 | accessdate=17 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123131554/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070611/debtext/70611-0015.htm#07061179001224 | archive-date=23 November 2007 | url-status=live }}
Francis fought against the closing of Port Talbot's magistrates and the moving of administrative posts to other locations, saying, "Local justice needs to take place in a local setting."{{cite news | title=Fears over town's court closure | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/5008452.stm | accessdate=17 September 2007 | date=24 May 2006 | work=BBC News | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060604031535/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_west/5008452.stm | archive-date=4 June 2006 | url-status=live }} He suggested that Wales could have a carers' commissioner based on the Children's Commissioner for Wales.{{cite news | title=Carers 'champion' urged for Wales | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4490490.stm | accessdate=18 September 2007 | date=2 December 2005 | work=BBC News | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112070546/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4490490.stm | archive-date=12 November 2012 | url-status=live }}
In February 2011, it was reported that Francis had been quoted in a leaked US diplomatic cable. The cable by a US embassy political officer dated from 2008 and discussed the upcoming Welsh Labour leadership election to choose a successor to the retiring Rhodri Morgan. Francis was quoted as claiming that all of the prospective candidates who were already members of the Welsh Assembly were seen as flawed by the Welsh Labour Party and suggesting that many in the party were hoping for a "white knight" to be "parachute[d] in" from outside the Assembly. However, Francis claimed that he could not recall the conversation, suggesting that "it sounds as if the diplomat suffers from poor shorthand" and stating that "it is on the record that I was an early supporter of {{interp|Assembly Member and successful leadership candidate}} Carwyn Jones [...] I would certainly not have supported such an absurd suggestion as parachuting anyone into the assembly".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12381300 |title=Wikileaks reveals US cable on 'weak' Welsh devolution |author= |date=7 February 2011 | work=BBC News |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114205317/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12381300 |archive-date=14 November 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/london-wikileaks/8304732/WALES-WHO-WILL-REPLACE-FIRST-MINISTER-MORGAN-WHEN-HE-RESIGNS.html |title=Wales: Who Will Replace First Minister Morgan When he Resigns? |author= |date=4 February 2011 | work=The Telegraph |access-date=4 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104170033/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/london-wikileaks/8304732/WALES-WHO-WILL-REPLACE-FIRST-MINISTER-MORGAN-WHEN-HE-RESIGNS.html |archive-date=4 November 2018 |url-status=live }}
On 22 November 2013, Francis announced he would be standing down as MP for Aberavon at the 2015 general election.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25060333|title=Hywel Francis to stand down as MP for Aberavon in 2015|date=22 November 2013|work=BBC News|accessdate=24 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125135511/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25060333|archive-date=25 November 2013|url-status=live}} Stephen Kinnock, son of former Labour leader Neil Kinnock, was selected to succeed Francis as the Labour candidate for Aberavon.{{cite news|title=Neil Kinnock's son Stephen selected to fight Aberavon seat|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-26700333|work=BBC News|date=22 March 2014|accessdate=23 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140323032548/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-26700333|archive-date=23 March 2014|url-status=live}}
Personal life
Francis married Mair Price in 1968. They had a son with Down syndrome, who died aged 16 in 1997 of a heart condition.
He died aged 74 from cancer on 14 February 2021, at Morriston Hospital in Swansea, Wales.{{cite news |title=Ex-MP Hywel Francis dies: Tributes to 'lovely and compassionate person' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-56064059 |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=14 February 2021}} Francis is survived by his wife and two children.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Dai |author-link=Dai Smith (academic) |title=Hywel Francis obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/01/hywel-francis-obituary |access-date=3 March 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=1 March 2021}}
Publications
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book
| last1 = Francis
| first1 = Hywel
| last2 = Smith
| first2 = Dai
| name-list-style = amp
| title = The Fed, a History of the South Wales Miners in the Twentieth Century
| edition = reprint
| year = 1980
| publisher = Lawrence and Wishart
| isbn = 978-0-85315-524-9
}}
- {{cite book |author-mask=1
| last = Francis
| first = Hywel
| title = Miners Against Fascism: Wales and the Spanish Civil War
| url = {{GBurl|id=tndpAAAAMAAJ}}
| url-access = limited
| year = 1984
| publisher = Lawrence and Wishart
| isbn = 978-0-85315-576-8
}}
- {{cite book |author-mask=1
| last = Francis
| first = Hywel
| title = {{title case|Cymru: gwlad sy'n dysgu; llawlyfr addysg am oes 1999}}
| trans-title = {{title case|Wales: a learning country; the 1999 handbook for lifelong learning}}
| date = 1999
| publisher = Prifysgol Cymru Abertawe, Canolfan Addysg am Oes Cymru
| location = Abertawe
| isbn = 978-1-900346-45-0
| language = cy
}}
- {{cite book |author-mask=1
| last = Francis
| first = Hywel
| title = History on Our Side: Wales and the 1984–85 Miners' Strike
| edition = illustrated, reprint
| year = 2009
| publisher = Iconau
| isbn = 978-1-905762-45-3
}}
- {{cite book |author-mask=1
| last1 = Francis
| first1 = Hywel
| name-list-style = amp
| last2 = Williams
| first2 = Siân
| title = Do Miners Read Dickens?: Origins and Progress of the South Wales Miners' Library, 1973–2013
| edition = illustrated
| year = 2013
| publisher = Parthian
| isbn = 978-1-909844-44-5
}}
{{refend}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150401004454/http://www.hywelfrancis.co.uk/ Hywel Francis MP] official constituency website
- [http://www.welshlabour10.org.uk/candidates/hywel-francis-aberavon/ Hywel Francis MP]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Welsh Labour Party profile{{UK MP links | parliament = hywel-francis/1382 | hansard = mr-hywel-francis | hansardcurr = 3314 | guardian = 6299/hywel-francis | publicwhip = Hywel_Francis | theywork = hywel-francis | record = Hywel-Francis/Aberavon/692 | bbc = 25618.stm | journalisted = }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20181121203708/https://www.swansea.ac.uk/iss/swml/ South Wales Miners' Library]
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=John Morris}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Aberavon|years=2001–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Stephen Kinnock}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Francis, Hywel}}
Category:Academics of the University of Wales
Category:Alumni of Swansea University
Category:Welsh-speaking politicians