John Whitby
John Whitby | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sarah Dines |
| Majority | 350 (0.6%) |
| Member of Derby City Council for Mackworth and New Zealand Mackworth (2010–2023) | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Adrian Pegg |
| In office 5 May 2010 – 3 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Raymond Baxter |
| Succeeded by | Adrian Pegg |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Michael Whitby Derbyshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Open University (BA) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Progressive metal Alternative metal |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1988–1998 |
| Formerly of | The Beyond |
John Michael Whitby is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Derbyshire Dales since 2024.[1] A former musician, he was the lead singer of The Beyond in the 1980s and 1990s.
Early life
Whitby born in Derbyshire and educated at Woodlands Secondary Modern.[2] He received a Bachelor Arts degree in Social Science and Politics from the Open University.[3] At 21 he was living in Allestree, and was working on an Enterprise Allowance Scheme in Derby.[4]
Musical career
Whitby was the lead singer in the Derby progressive rock band The Beyond.[5][6] The band was described as a fusion of funk and metal.[7] He was recruited by the band's founders, guitarist Andy Gatford and drummer Neil Cooper, with whom he had been school friends.[7] After that band ended he, along with many of his band mates, formed the band Gorilla.[8][9] In 2018, while Whitby was a mayor, the band played a reunion gig, raising thousands for charity.[10]
Political career
After music Whitby joined the civil service.[11] He became a councillor on Derby City Council in the early 2010s. In May 2017 he was made Mayor of Derby, a position which is held for a year, during which he raised £64,000 for charity. Despite it being noted that he was popular, even with opposition parties, he lost his seat just before the end of his term.[12] He regained a seat on Derby council in the 2022 elections.[13]
In the 2024 United Kingdom general election, he stood for the Derbyshire Dales constituency. He gained the seat from Sarah Dines, a member of the Conservative Party, with a majority of 350.[14][15][16] As an MP he supported calls for measures to restrict holiday lets in the constituency, to tackle the local housing crisis.[17]
Personal life
He is a foster carer.[11]
References
- ^ "Election results for Derbyshire Dales, 4 July 2024". democracy.derbyshiredales.gov.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Hawley, Zena (24 February 2018). "Derby mayor reveals painting he hopes will raise money for charity". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "John Whitby MP - Derbyshire Dales Constituency". Derbyshire Dales Constituency Labour Party. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Sassi, Michael (27 April 1990). "Rock Success made in Derby". Evening Telegraph. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Curtain, Peter (11 September 1990). "Heavy Metal Maestro Turns to Opera". Evening Telegraph. p. 44. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Mayor to join former band The Beyond to raise money for charity". Derbyshire Live. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "The Beyond Back on Home Front". Evening Telegraph. 17 August 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Day, Eleanor (29 October 1997). "Gorilla play live at Virgin". Evening Telegraph. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Sheldon's Sounds". The Derby Express. 19 October 1995. p. 27. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Harper, Christopher (17 February 2018). "Watch the Mayor of Derby as he rocks out with his former band". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b Cooper, Jon (28 June 2024). "Derbyshire Dales General Election candidates have their say on the campaign trail". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Hawley, Zena (23 May 2018). "Was John Whitby the coolest Mayor of Derby ever?". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Hawley, Zena (6 May 2022). "Labour make gains as Tories lose seats in Derby council elections". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Derbyshire Dales | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Bisoni, Irene; Corbett, Louis Dargavel; Hawley, Zena; Allen, George; Slater, Nigel; Hennessy, Peter; Fisher, Oscar (5 July 2024). "Derby and Derbyshire election results as Labour dominate". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Hardwick, Tom (5 July 2024). "Sarah Dines "disappointed" as Derbyshire Dales swings to Labour – with every seat in the county turning red amid Tory electoral wipeout". Derbyshire Times. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Torr, George (7 August 2024). "Derbyshire Dales: Labour MP calls for new rules on holiday lets". BBC News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.