Cecil Franks

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Cecil Simon Franks, (born June 1, 1935), is an academic from Manchester, United Kingdom. He was the Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness from the 1983 UK General Election until the 1992 UK General Election.

His election was somewhat of a surprise, given that he was a Conservative Party candidate in a traditional Labour Party heartland. In being elected, Franks successfully defeated former cabinet minister Albert Booth.

The explanation for this was the support of the Conservative party for nuclear weaponry, and their promises to invest in this. At the time, the Labour Party had a commitment to nuclear disarmanent. At the time, Barrow-in-Furness, the constituency's biggest town, was largely dependent on its shipyard and, in particular, nuclear submarines (VSEL was then the town's largest employer). This Labour policy was locally unpopular and Franks was able to hold onto this Labour 'safe-seat' for almost ten years.

Since losing his seat in Parliament, he has not stood for election again.