15 Facts About Mike Whitby

Michael John Whitby, Baron Whitby was born on 6 February 1948 and is an English Conservative Party politician and former leader of Birmingham City Council, a post he held from June 2004 to May 2012.

Mike Whitby was formerly a Councillor on Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.

Mike Whitby then undertook a period of voluntary work in Germany, helping to rebuild communities destroyed during World War II.

Mike Whitby has worked in the cultural sector in Liverpool, and lectured in Business and Management Studies.

Mike Whitby is currently chairman and managing director of Skeldings, a Smethwick-based engineering company, which was the winner of the Birmingham Post Business Award in June 2001.

Mike Whitby first stood as a candidate in the Midlands West European by-election in 1987, again for Midlands West in the European Parliament Elections in 1989, and then as a Westminster Parliamentary candidate for Delyn in 1992.

Mike Whitby achieved elected office in 1997, on winning the Harborne ward of Birmingham in a by-election, succeeding Labour councillor Anthony Rust whose resignation had triggered the election.

In 1998, Mike Whitby became the Deputy Leader of Conservative Group in Birmingham City Council, eventually becoming Group Leader in 2003.

Mike Whitby's colleagues suggested they were a victim of national issues playing out in the local elections, but commentators still suggested the 2012 Local Elections could be the last for the coalition.

Mike Whitby describes the mandate for the Progressive Partnership as a challenge to:.

Mike Whitby has been heavily involved in a number of large infrastructure projects in Birmingham.

Mike Whitby has been closely linked with the development of the Birmingham Big City Plan.

At times, Mike Whitby has attracted headlines as a result of comments he has made in public.

In February 2007, Mike Whitby withdrew remarks which attracted the attention of mental health charity Mind.

In 2001 he was part of the "no campaign" which successfully campaigned against the introduction of mayors in Birmingham, whilst in 2006 and 2007 his relationship with David Cameron was reportedly strained as Mike Whitby was identified as an opponent of the Conservative policy of directly elected mayors running large cities in England.