Introduction
Sir Derek Harold Spencer, QC (born 31 March 1936), is a British Conservative Party politician.
Education and Career
Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, he was educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford. He served as a Lieutenant in the King's Own Regiment from 1954-56. He became a barrister in 1961 and 'took silk' as a QC in 1980.
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, 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, 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, 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.