13 Facts About Bob Spink

Robert Michael Spink was born on 1 August 1948 and is a British former politician who was a member of parliament for Castle Point in Essex.

Bob Spink was elected as the Conservative Party MP for Castle Point in 1992, lost his seat in 1997, but regained it in 2001.

Bob Spink was educated at Holycroft Secondary Modern School on Victoria Road in Keighley and Southall Technical College.

Bob Spink joined the Royal Air Force in 1964 and, until 1966, did his basic training at RAF Cosford and RAF Uxbridge, being invalided.

Bob Spink was an engineer for EMI Electronics Ltd from 1966 to 1977 in Hayes and gained an Ordinary National Certificate from Southall Technical College in 1969 when on day-release, then became an industrial management consultant in 1977 for Harold Whitehead and Partners.

Bob Spink was a county councillor in Dorset from 1985 to 1992.

In May 1994, Bob Spink presented an adjournment debate in the House of Commons in strong opposition to proposals to reduce the age of consent for homosexual acts from 21 to 18 The age of consent was later reduced to 18 after the passing of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

In March 2008, Bob Spink announced to the UK House of Commons that he had resigned the Conservative Party whip because of "criminal and other irregularities" in his constituency.

Bob Spink later found himself at odds with his new party over the issue of whether or not to extend the amount of time a suspect can be detained without charge from 28 to 42 days.

Bob Spink is opposed to abortion and supports the reintroduction of capital punishment.

In March 2010, Bob Spink confirmed he was encouraging candidates to stand in local elections under the label "Independent Save Our Green Belt".

Bob Spink had tricked elderly and infirm constituents into signing election nomination forms which they believed were petitions.

Bob Spink married Janet Barham and they have three sons and a daughter.