Derek Spencer

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

Sir Derek Spencer

Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office
15 April 1992  2 May 1997
Prime MinisterJohn Major
Preceded byNicholas Lyell
Succeeded byCharles Falconer
Member of Parliament
for Brighton Pavilion
In office
9 April 1992  8 April 1997
Preceded byJulian Amery
Succeeded byDavid Lepper
Member of Parliament
for Leicester South
In office
9 June 1983  18 May 1987
Preceded byJim Marshall
Succeeded byJim Marshall
Personal details
Born (1936-03-31) 31 March 1936
United Kingdom
Political partyConservative
Alma materKeble 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

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Jim Marshall
Member of Parliament for Leicester South
19831987
Succeeded by
Jim Marshall
Preceded by
Julian Amery
Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion
19921997
Succeeded by
David Lepper
Legal offices
Preceded by
Nicholas Lyell
Solicitor General for England and Wales
1992–1997
Succeeded by
Charles Falconer


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