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British politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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 |
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]
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]
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]
He is a foster carer.[11]
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