Chris Franks
Encyclopedia
Christopher Paul Franks (born 2 August 1951) is a Welsh
engineer and politician. A member of Plaid Cymru
, he has led the party's group on the Vale of Glamorgan
council. Between 2007 and 2011 he was a member of the National Assembly for Wales
losing in 2011.
, and educated at Llandaff College. He qualified as a civil engineer
, and worked in the Highways and Transport Department of a local authority.
council from Dinas Powys
ward, and also to Dinas Powys Community Council. Franks was the Plaid Cymru candidate for Vale of Glamorgan
in the 2001 general election
, and shortly after the election was chosen as Plaid Cymru group leader on Vale of Glamorgan. He also fought the Vale of Glamorgan in the 1999 and 2003 elections to the National Assembly for Wales. In 2002, Franks challenged Owen John Thomas
for the top place on the Plaid Cymru list in South Wales Central, but was unsuccessful.
; Plaid had won two seats from the regional list in both previous elections to the Assembly. He duly retained the seat in the 2007 election
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
engineer and politician. A member of Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
, he has led the party's group on the Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
council. Between 2007 and 2011 he was a member of the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
losing in 2011.
Career
Franks was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, and educated at Llandaff College. He qualified as a civil engineer
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
, and worked in the Highways and Transport Department of a local authority.
Political life
He was elected to Vale of GlamorganVale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan is a county borough in Wales; an exceptionally rich agricultural area, it lies in the southern part of Glamorgan, South Wales...
council from Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys
Dinas Powys is a large village and a community in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales which takes its name from the Dinas Powys hillfort that dates from the Iron Age...
ward, and also to Dinas Powys Community Council. Franks was the Plaid Cymru candidate for Vale of Glamorgan
Vale of Glamorgan (UK Parliament constituency)
Vale of Glamorgan is a county constituency in South Wales, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
in the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
, and shortly after the election was chosen as Plaid Cymru group leader on Vale of Glamorgan. He also fought the Vale of Glamorgan in the 1999 and 2003 elections to the National Assembly for Wales. In 2002, Franks challenged Owen John Thomas
Owen John Thomas
Owen John Thomas MA is a former Plaid Cymru politician who represented the South Wales Central region in the National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2007.-Background:...
for the top place on the Plaid Cymru list in South Wales Central, but was unsuccessful.
Vale of Glamorgan council leadership
After the 2004 elections to Vale of Glamorgan Council, the Plaid Cymru group found itself with the 'balance of power' and Franks held meetings with both the Conservative and Labour leaders. Eventually the Conservatives formed a minority administration. This administration lasted until November 2006 when a crisis over social services cuts led to a vote of no confidence in the Conservative Leader being passed. Franks declared that an all-party coalition was preferable. A coalition between Labour, Plaid Cymru and Independent councillors was agreed that December under which Franks became Cabinet member for Legal and Public Protection. He is no longer the Cabinet member for Legal and Public Protection, this by succeeded by Ms Val Hartrey.Franks was neutral in his support for the coalition having abstained in the vote of no confidence. Before this he propped up the Tory administration.National Assembly candidate
Franks was selected in May 2006 as second on Plaid Cymru's list for South Wales Central following the retirement of Owen John ThomasOwen John Thomas
Owen John Thomas MA is a former Plaid Cymru politician who represented the South Wales Central region in the National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2007.-Background:...
; Plaid had won two seats from the regional list in both previous elections to the Assembly. He duly retained the seat in the 2007 election
National Assembly for Wales election, 2007
The 2007 National Assembly election was held on Thursday 3 May 2007 to elect members to the National Assembly for Wales. It was the third general election. On the same day local elections in England and Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament election took place...
.