Leon Brittan

**Leon Brittan, Baron Brittan of Spennithorne**  (25 September 1939 – 21 January 2015) was a British politician and barrister. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Home Secretary (1983–1985), a member of Parliament (MP) and subsequently of the European Commission.

Brittan died of cancer in London, aged 75.

In October 2014, a Labour MP used parliamentary privilege to refer to claims that Brittan had been linked to child abuse. On 21 March 2016, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that "Operation Midland", the investigation into the alleged paedophile ring, had been closed without any charges being brought.

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-prefix**: The Right Honourable
- **name**: The Lord Brittan of Spennithorne
- **image**: Lord Brittan 2011.jpg
- **caption**: Brittan in 2011
- **office**: Vice-President of the European Commission
- **president**: Manuel Marín (Acting)
- **term start**: 16 March 1999
- **term end**: 15 September 1999
- **predecessor**: Manuel Marín
- **successor**: Neil Kinnock
- **office2**: European Commissioner for External Relations
- **term start2**: 23 January 1995
- **term end2**: 15 September 1999
- **predecessor2**: Frans Andriessen
- **successor2**: The Lord Patten of Barnes
- **office3**: European Commissioner for Trade
- **term start3**: 6 January 1993
- **term end3**: 15 September 1999
- **predecessor3**: Frans Andriessen
- **successor3**: Pascal Lamy
- **office4**: European Commissioner for Competition
- **president4**: Jacques Delors
- **term start4**: 6 January 1989
- **term end4**: 6 January 1993
- **predecessor4**: Peter Sutherland
- **successor4**: Karel Van Miert
- **office5**: Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
- **primeminister5**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start5**: 2 September 1985
- **term end5**: 24 January 1986
- **predecessor5**: Norman Tebbit
- **successor5**: Paul Channon
- **office6**: Home Secretary
- **primeminister6**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start6**: 11 June 1983
- **term end6**: 2 September 1985
- **predecessor6**: William Whitelaw, 1st Viscount Whitelaw, William Whitelaw
- **successor6**: Douglas Hurd
- **office7**: Chief Secretary to the Treasury
- **primeminister7**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start7**: 5 January 1981
- **term end7**: 11 June 1983
- **predecessor7**: John Biffen
- **successor7**: Peter Rees, Baron Rees, Peter Rees
- **office8**: Home Office, Minister of State for the Home Office
- **primeminister8**: Margaret Thatcher
- **term start8**: 4 May 1979
- **term end8**: 5 January 1981
- **predecessor8**: Terence Boston, Baron Boston of Faversham, Lord Boston
- **successor8**: Patrick Mayhew, Baron Mayhew of Twysden, Patrick Mayhew
- **office9**: Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament
for Richmond (Yorks) (UK Parliament constituency), Richmond (Yorks)
- **term start9**: 9 June 1983
- **term end9**: 31 December 1988
- **predecessor9**: Timothy Kitson
- **successor9**: William Hague
- **office10**: Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament
for Cleveland and Whitby (UK Parliament constituency), Cleveland and Whitby
- **term start10**: 28 February 1974
- **term end10**: 9 June 1983
- **predecessor10**: James Tinn
- **successor10**: Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom), Constituency abolished
- **birth place**: North London, England
- **death place**: London, England
- **party**: Conservative Party (UK), Conservative
- **profession**: Barrister
- **education**: The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, Hertfordshire
- **alma mater**: Trinity College, Cambridge and Yale University (Henry Fellowship)