Brian Spencer died aged 77 after a short illness
Cllr Brian Spencer has died at the age of 77
Tributes have been paid to a Merseyside political leader who has died at the age of 77. Brian Spencer, a former St Helens Council leader who headed up the town’s Liberal Democrat group died on December 26 after a short illness.
Cllr Spencer served as a St Helens councillor for three decades over a number of periods having first been elected to represent the area of Sutton and Bold in 1980. From 2004 he then served as Sutton councillor and during that time was the leader of the council from 2006 to 2010. He continued to be a councillor in the ward until 2012.
He was re-elected in 2022 to represent the ward of Sutton South East and once again went on to be leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on the council. Cllr Spencer was a former electrician and an active member of the National Union of Mineworkers, becoming a branch secretary and attending national conferences as a delegate.
Paying tribute, current St Helens Council leader Cllr Anthony Burns described Cllr Spencer as a dedicated politician. He added: “We are saddened to hear of Brian’s death and we’d like to pass on our condolences to Brian’s family at this difficult time for them.
“Brian was committed to serving the public during a political career that spanned more than 40 years of dedicated service to our borough. While we had our political differences he understood the importance of trying to come together where we could, no doubt shaped by his time as a council leader and knowing that as councillors we all want to see our borough thrive. He will be very sadly missed by his colleagues and officers across the council.”
A special council session will be held on the day of Councillor Spencer’s funeral, with a date yet to be set, where councillors will pay their own tribute to the much-respected councillor.