Michael Whitley (born 17 November 1951) is a British Labour Party politician and trade unionist who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Birkenhead from 2019 to 2024.
Mick Whitley | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Birkenhead | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Frank Field |
| Succeeded by | Alison McGovern |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Whitley 17 November 1951 Birkenhead, Cheshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Other political affiliations | Socialist Campaign Group |
| Website | mickwhitley |
Early life and career
editMichael Whitley was born on 17 November 1951 in St Catherine's Hospital, Birkenhead.[1][2] He grew up in Woodchurch,[3][4] and his father and brothers worked in the ship building industry.[5]
After serving in the Merchant Navy, Whitley worked for Vauxhall Motors and became a trade union organiser. He was later a regional secretary for the trade union Unite.[6]
Parliamentary career
editWhitley was elected as the Labour MP for Birkenhead at the 2019 general election with 59% of the vote and a majority of 17,705.[7][8]
In July 2021, during the 2021 Israel-Palestine Crisis, Whitley signed a letter along with 19 other MPs calling for sanctions on Israel "for its repeated violations of international law".[9]
On 14 December 2021, Whitley resigned from his role as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Miliband in order to defy the whip by voting against mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for NHS staff.[10] He also voted in line with the party whip by voting in favour of COVID-19 vaccine passports and an expansion of mask mandates.[11][12]
On 24 February 2022, following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Whitley was one of 11 Labour MPs threatened with losing the party whip after they signed a statement by the Stop the War Coalition which questioned the legitimacy of NATO and accused the military alliance of "eastward expansion". All 11 MPs subsequently removed their signatures.[13]
The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies meant he was challenged by Wirral South MP Alison McGovern for the Labour selection for Birkenhead for the 2024 general election.[14] He was deselected on 16 June 2023.[15]
References
edit- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 102. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
- ^ "Mick Whitley MP for Birkenhead". Vote Labour. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (2020). The Times Guide to the House of Commons 2019. London. ISBN 9780008392581.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Bond, Daniel (16 December 2019). "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". Politics Home: The House. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (3 August 2019). "Momentum-backed Mick Whitley picked to fight Frank Field in Birkenhead". LabourList.
- ^ https://www.wirral.gov.uk/sites/default/files/all/Elections%20and%20voting/2019%20Notices/Statement%20of%20Persons%20Nominated%20BIRKENHEAD.pdf [dead link]
- ^ Birkenhead parliamentary constituency – Election 2019 – BBC News
- ^ "JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE". Mick Whitley MP. 15 May 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna; Chappell, Elliot (14 December 2021). "22 Labour MPs rebel and two frontbenchers quit over new Covid laws". LabourList. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Health Protection (Entry to venues etc) SI No 1416". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Health Regulations (Face Coverings) SI No 1400". UK Parliament. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
- ^ Wearmouth, Rachel (24 February 2022). "11 Labour MPs threatened with suspension for signing Stop The War letter attacking NATO". Mirror. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Wirral boundary changes prompt Birkenhead Labour candidate fight". BBC News. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
- ^ Neame, Katie (16 June 2023). "Frontbencher McGovern beats left-winger Whitley in Birkenhead selection". LabourList. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
External links
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