Lafitte, François

François Lafitte (3 August 1913—21 November 2002) was a French-born British political activist, social researcher, professor and abortion lobbyist. He was professor of social policy and administration at Birmingham University from 1958 to 1980 and chaired the British Pregnancy Advisory Service from 1968 to 1988. In the 1930s, he was a member of the Communist Party of Great Britain, but left to join the elite think-tank, the Political and Economic Planning (PEP). As a member of the editorial board of The Times, Lafitte developed a close relationship with the Attlee ministry as an advocate of Keynsian economics and the welfare state. He played a significant role behind the scenes in lobbying for the legalisation of abortion in the United Kingdom, being associated with the Family Planning Association.