Tom Spencer (politician)

Thomas Newnham Bayley Spencer (10 April 1948 – 4 May 2023) was a British Conservative politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP).

Life and career
Spencer was born on 10 April 1948. He was educated at Pangbourne Nautical College and the University of Southampton. As a student he was involved in the Federation of Conservative Students and the Young European Federalists.

Spencer served as Conservative MEP for Derbyshire from 1979 to 1984, Conservative MEP for Surrey West from 1989 to 1994, and as Conservative MEP for Surrey from 1994 to 1999. He was leader of the UK Conservative MEPs from 1995 to 1998 and was Chairman of the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee from 1997 to 1999.

Spencer decided not to stand for re-election to the European Parliament in 1999 after being found with gay pornography and two cannabis cigarettes in his luggage at Heathrow Airport. Spencer acknowledged being gay and said that his wife was aware of that before they married. Spencer was in a relationship with pornographic actor Cole Tucker, who was depicted in the pornography found in Spencer's luggage.

Spencer died from progressive supranuclear palsy on 4 May 2023, at the age of 75.