Derek Spencer

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

Sir Derek Spencer QC
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 15 April 1992 – 2 May 1997
Prime Minister	John Major
Preceded by	Nicholas Lyell
Succeeded by	Charles Falconer
Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion
In office 9 April 1992 – 8 April 1997
Preceded by	Julian Amery
Succeeded by	David Lepper
Member of Parliament for Leicester South
In office 9 June 1983 – 18 May 1987
Preceded by	Jim Marshall
Succeeded by	Jim Marshall
Personal details
Born	31 March 1936 United Kingdom
Political party	Conservative
Alma mater	Keble College, Oxford

Education and career

Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, he was educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar and Keble College, Oxford. He served as a lieutenant in the King's Own Regiment from 1954 to 1956.[3] He became a barrister in 1961 and 'took silk' as a QC in 1980.[4]

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.

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 13.5% swing.

Memberships

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

Family

Sir Derek has three sons (David, Andrew and Frederick) and one daughter (Caroline). His second wife, Caroline, died on 10 January 2003 of a heart attack.

References

1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 2)
2. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "P" (part 1)
3. Who's Who 1987 page 1648
4. "18 Red Lion Court - Biography". Archived from the original on 8 July 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.

External links

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