Mike Whitby

For the academic and ancient historian, see Michael Whitby.

The Right Honourable The Lord Whitby
Mike Whitby in the Council Chamber, Birmingham
Leader of Birmingham City Council
In office June 2004 –3 May 2012

Whitby describes the mandate for the Progressive Partnership as a challenge to: ^[9]

• "Deliver a low taxation environment
• Turn around failing Council services
• Raise the quality of life
• Unlock the infrastructure projects which had been mired by indecision
• Transform Birmingham City Council into an organisation fit for the 21st century
• Enhance Birmingham's reputation"

After almost eight years in control of the Council, Whitby suggests his administration has delivered against all of these challenges, highlighting in particular the fact that Birmingham City Council is now one of the lowest taxing Councils in any of the UK's major cities, ^[10] delivering a Council Tax freeze in both the 2011/12 and 2012/13 financial years. Whitby points to the improvements made in key Council departments including Housing, Planning and Social Services whilst citing the increase Birmingham has made in indices such as the Mercer World Quality of Living Report, in which in 2011 Birmingham climbed three places to 52nd, ahead of all UK cities except the capital.

Whitby has been heavily involved in a number of large infrastructure projects in Birmingham. The £189 m Library of Birmingham project, which was due to open to the public on 3 September 2013, ^{[11] [ needs update ]} has been a commitment of Whitby's throughout his leadership for which he takes personal responsibility. The new Library, which is designed by Mecanoo architects, will be one of Europe's largest public libraries upon completion and lead to the demolition of the old library building, paving the way for a £500,000 redevelopment of Birmingham's Paradise Circus area. Equally, Whitby has been responsible for helping bring about the £600 million redevelopment of Birmingham's New Street Station in partnership with Network Rail, Advantage West Midlands and Centro. ^[12]

During his time as leader, Whitby has been responsible for the slogan "Global City, Local Heart", a brand which commonly appears on Council documents and marketing material. It has been described as a simple phrase which captures the fact that as a city of over a million people, Birmingham can be one of the world's great cities, but an integral part of what makes it great is the diverse individuals which make up the population. ^[13]

Whitby has been closely linked with the development of the Birmingham Big City Plan. In 2007, a report was commissioned by Councillor Whitby; the result was The Birmingham City Centre Masterplan: The Visioning Study by Professor Michael Parkinson. ^[14] The largest master-planning exercise of its kind, the Big City Plan is designed to shape and revitalise Birmingham's city centre over the next twenty years, putting the city's sustainability, culture, creativity, technology and enterprise at the heart of its future plans, activities and development.

At times, Whitby has attracted headlines as a result of comments he has made in public. In 2006, he made a written apology to newly elected Respect Councillor Salma Yaqoob following remarks he made that she would be "better off in Oldham or Burnley". Yaqoob had criticised the Council leadership for the absence of Black or Asian Councillors in the Council Cabinet or in senior positions such as Chairs of Scrutiny Committees. ^[15]

In February 2007, Whitby withdrew remarks which attracted the attention of mental health charity Mind. In a council debate, he accused Labour Councillors of suffering from schizophrenia. In the same debate, a Cabinet colleague also described the Labour Councillors of suffering senile dementia. Following media attention, Whitby issued a partial apology. ^[16]

In December 2007, he criticised the study of a Tory think tank headed by former Conservative Party Leader Iain Duncan Smith to be "error-ridden, inaccurate, out of date and misleading". ^[17] The report claimed the Council needed to tackle crushing poverty and unemployment before it could hail Birmingham as a great city.

Whitby on Elected Mayors

The issue of Elected Mayors in major cities has followed Whitby since he entered politics in Birmingham. 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 Whitby was identified as an opponent of the Conservative policy of directly elected mayors running large cities in England. ^[18] Whitby was said to have described the debate around elected mayors as "puerile" and disputed the idea that support for the idea would form part of the forthcoming Conservative Party manifesto. At that time the Birmingham Mail campaigned in favour of a referendum for an elected Mayor for Birmingham but the campaign failed to attract anywhere near the level of public interest needed.

More recently there have been suggestions Whitby's position has softened considerably on the issue of Mayors. Having not publicly discussed his stance on the issue since 2007, in 2012 press reports have appeared suggesting Whitby may stand as the Conservative candidate for Birmingham should there be a "yes" to the referendum planned in the City to coincide with the May local elections, Birmingham voted no in the referendum. ^[19]

References

1. Walker, Jonathan (1 August 2013). "Peerage for former Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby". Birmingham Post . Retrieved 3 September 2013.
2. "By Election Results - 1997 to 2007" (PDF). Birmingham City Council.
3. "No.10 Mike Whitby". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
4. "BBC Local Election Results 2011 – Birmingham". BBC.
5. "Birmingham City Council elections: Lib Dems stunned as they lose seats after 20 years". Birmingham Mail.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
6. "Birmingham City Council budget is a 'ticking time bomb', claims opposition". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
7. "Labour gain control of Birmingham and Sandwell councils". BBC News. 4 May 2012.
8. "No. 60625". The London Gazette . 12 September 2013. p. 18033.
9. "Mike Whitby – State of the City 2011" (PDF). Birmingham City Council.
10. "Minutes – Birmingham City Council Meeting 28.02.2012" (PDF). Birmingham City Council.
11. "Birmingham library's opening date announced". BBC News.
12. "New Street New Start". Archived from the original on 28 August 2010.
13. "'Global city – local heart' has never been more apt for Birmingham". Birmingham Post.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
14. "The Birmingham City Centre Masterplan: The Visioning Study" (PDF). Birmingham City Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
15. Sorry, my remarks were misinterpreted, says Whitby – Birmingham Post
16. Whitby retracts schizophrenia jibe – Birmingham Post
17. Mike Whitby slams 'misleading' Tory report about Birmingham – Birmingham Mail
18. Birmingham Council leader Mike Whitby in dig at David Cameron – Birmingham Mail
19. "Mike Whitby drops strongest hint that he will stand in Birmingham mayor election". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.

Political offices
Preceded by Sir Albert Bore	Leader of Birmingham City Council 2004 – 2012	Succeeded by Sir Albert Bore
Orders of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by The Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth	Gentlemen Baron Whitby	Followed by The Lord Finkelstein