Sir Derek Harold Spencer (31 March 1936 – 19 May 2023) was a British barrister and

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician. He was Member of Parliament for Leicester South from 1983 to 1987 and for Brighton Pavilion from 1992 to 1997. During his latter term in Parliament, he was also Solicitor General for England and Wales.

Education and career

Born in Clitheroe, Lancashire, on 31 March 1936, he was educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and

Keble College, Oxford Keble College () is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University Museum a ...

. He served as a

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

in the King's Own Royal Regiment from 1954 to 1956. He became a

barrister A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...

in 1961 and took silk as a QC in 1980. Spencer was a Master of the Bench, Gray's Inn. He became a

bencher A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher c ...

in 1991. After joining the chambers of Michael Havers, he was a barrister in the South Eastern Circuit.

Political career

Spencer was elected councillor for the

Highgate Highgate is a suburban area of N postcode area, north London in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden, London Borough of Islington, Islington and London Borough of Haringey, Haringey. The area is at the north-eastern corner ...

ward on Camden London Borough Council in 1978 and was re-elected in 1982, this time for

Swiss Cottage Swiss Cottage is an area in the London Borough of Camden, England. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and includes Swiss Cottage tube station. Swiss Cottage lies north-northwest of Charing Cross. The area was ...

. Spencer resigned from Camden council after he 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 Events January * January 1 – Bolivia reintroduces the Boliviano currency. * January 2 – Chadian–Libyan conflict – Battle of Fada: The Military of Chad, Chadian army destroys a Libyan armoured brigade. * January 3 – Afghan leader ...

. Spencer was elected for the marginal Brighton Pavilion seat in

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

, when he was appointed Solicitor-General, and knighted in the 1992 Special Honours. ''

The Daily Telegraph ''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...

'' described his politics as "robustly right-wing". 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. He returned to his previous career.

Memberships

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

Personal life and death

Spencer married Joan Nutter in 1960; they had three children and later divorced. He was then married to Caroline Pärn from 1988 until her death in 2003. They had one son. Spencer died on 19 May 2023, at the age of 87.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Derek 1936 births 2023 deaths Military personnel from Lancashire 20th-century British Army personnel 20th-century English lawyers 20th-century King's Counsel 21st-century English lawyers 21st-century King's Counsel Alumni of Keble College, Oxford Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Conservative Party (UK) councillors Councillors in the London Borough of Camden English barristers English King's Counsel King's Own Royal Regiment officers Knights Bachelor Members of Gray's Inn People from Clitheroe Politicians from Brighton and Hove Solicitors general for England and Wales UK MPs 1983–1987 UK MPs 1992–1997 People educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School