[2] 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.

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.

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.

Francis opposed Kim Leadbeater's bill introducing assisted suicide into law and served on the committee examining the legislation[5].