Francis was born in 1953. He was educated at Abingdon School, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and the College of Law and is married with five children. He practised at the criminal bar from 1977-85 and was a councillor for the City of Westminster from 1978-84. Francis was Member of Parliament for North Warwickshire from 1983-92 during which time he was PPS to Hon Peter Morrison MP, Minister of State for Employment, (1984-85); Assistant Government Whip (1985-87); Minister for Corporate and Consumer Affairs at Department of Trade and Industry (1987-89); Minister of State at Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1989-90); and Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1990-92).

In June 1992 he was created a Privy Counsellor in the Dissolution Honours List. He was appointed a non-executive Director of ASDA Group Plc in July 1992. He was a Director of Salomon Brothers from 1992-93; a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley & Co Ltd 1993-97.

Francis was Chairman of the Government's Deregulation Task Force from 1994-97. He was elected Member of Parliament for Horsham in May 1997.

In June 1997, he was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. He was Shadow Chancellor from June 1998 until February 2000. From February 2000 to September 2001, he was Shadow Foreign Secretary.

From May 2005 to June 2007, Francis served as Chairman of the Conservative Party. In June 2007, he was appointed Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. In May 2010, he was appointed Minister for Cabinet Office and Paymaster General within the Coalition Government.

Seminar Details
Vision Theatre, 13th June 2012:

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