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John Whitby

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John Whitby
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for Derbyshire Dales
Assumed office
4 July 2024
Preceded bySarah Dines
Majority350 (0.6%)
Member of Derby City Council
for Mackworth and New Zealand
Mackworth (2010–2023)
Assumed office
5 May 2022
Preceded byAdrian Pegg
In office
5 May 2010 – 3 May 2018
Preceded byRaymond Baxter
Succeeded byAdrian Pegg
Personal details
Born
John Michael Whitby

Derbyshire, England
Political partyLabour
Alma materOpen University (BA)
Musical career
GenresProgressive metal
Alternative metal
OccupationsSinger
Years active1988–1998
Formerly ofThe 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

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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

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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

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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

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He is a foster carer.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Election results for Derbyshire Dales, 4 July 2024". democracy.derbyshiredales.gov.uk. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. ^ Hawley, Zena (24 February 2018). "Derby mayor reveals painting he hopes will raise money for charity". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  3. ^ "John Whitby MP - Derbyshire Dales Constituency". Derbyshire Dales Constituency Labour Party. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  4. ^ Sassi, Michael (27 April 1990). "Rock Success made in Derby". Evening Telegraph. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  5. ^ Curtain, Peter (11 September 1990). "Heavy Metal Maestro Turns to Opera". Evening Telegraph. p. 44. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Mayor to join former band The Beyond to raise money for charity". Derbyshire Live. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b "The Beyond Back on Home Front". Evening Telegraph. 17 August 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  8. ^ Day, Eleanor (29 October 1997). "Gorilla play live at Virgin". Evening Telegraph. p. 15. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ "Sheldon's Sounds". The Derby Express. 19 October 1995. p. 27. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  10. ^ Harper, Christopher (17 February 2018). "Watch the Mayor of Derby as he rocks out with his former band". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Hawley, Zena (23 May 2018). "Was John Whitby the coolest Mayor of Derby ever?". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  13. ^ Hawley, Zena (6 May 2022). "Labour make gains as Tories lose seats in Derby council elections". Derbyshire Live. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Derbyshire Dales | General Election 2024". Sky News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ Torr, George (7 August 2024). "Derbyshire Dales: Labour MP calls for new rules on holiday lets". BBC News. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Derbyshire Dales

2024–present
Incumbent