Derek Spencer

Sir Derek Harold Spencer, QC (born 31 March 1936),^[1][2] is a British Conservative Party politician.

Professional career

Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, he became a barrister in 1961 and 'took silk' as a QC in 1980.^[3]

He is a Master of the Bench, Gray's Inn.

Politics career

Spencer was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Leicester South constituency in the Conservative landslide of 1983,^[1] by just 7 votes — the smallest margin in the country. He lost the seat back to Labour in 1987.

Then he was elected for the marginal Brighton Pavilion seat in 1992,^[2] when he was knighted and appointed Solicitor-General.

As Solicitor General he represented the government in several significant cases including Wingrove v UK (1997) about the application of blasphemy law under the Human Rights Act 1998.

In 1997,^[2] however, he was defeated by Labour's David Lepper by 13,181 votes on a 16% swing.

Memberships

• Ex-officio Bar Council, 1992–1997
• Criminal Bar Association
• Northern Ireland Bar
• South Eastern Circuit

Family

Spencer has three sons and one daughter. His second wife Caroline died on 10 January 2003 of a heart attack.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
2. ^ ^{a b c} Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
3. ^ "18 Red Lion Court - Biography". http://www.18redlioncourt.co.uk/index.php/barristers/spencer/80. Retrieved 8 September 2009. 

Exteransl links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Derek Spencer

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Jim Marshall	Member of Parliament for Leicester South 1983–1987	Succeeded by Jim Marshall
Preceded by Julian Amery	Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion 1992–1997	Succeeded by David Lepper
Legal offices
Preceded by Nicholas Lyell	Solicitor General for England and Wales 1992–1997	Succeeded by Charles Falconer

Persondata
Name	Spencer, Derek
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	31 March 1936
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death