Whitehead stood in Southampton Test in three successive elections, 1983, 1987, and 1992. In 1983 with 28.1% of the vote behind the incumbent Conservative MP James Hill.[5] He came second again in 1987 with 33.3% of the vote, again behind James Hill.[6] In 1992 he again came second behind James Hill, with 42.4% of the vote.[7][8]
He was re-elected as MP for Southampton Test at the 2001 general election with a decreased vote share of 52.5% and a decreased majority of 11,207.[10]
From June 2001 to May 2002, Whitehead was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.[11]
Whitehead was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with a decreased vote share of 42.7% and a decreased majority of 7,018.[12]
In June 2006, the UK Parliamentary Football Team ran a charity match in Portugal against the Portuguese Parliament, which coincided with part of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The match and the trip were sponsored by McDonald's as part of their Football in the Community Programme. The UKPFC was criticised by the British Medical Association for accepting McDonald's sponsorship.[14] Whitehead, who was the goalkeeper for the UKPFC, fully declared the sponsorship in his register of members interests.[15] He also pointed out the trip was part of a long-standing fundraising campaign between the UKPFC and McDonald's that raised over 20,000 euros for local charities.[16]
In September 2006, Whitehead voted against the Iraq War on the basis of the mission not receiving endorsement from the UN.[17]
Also in September 2006, Whitehead criticised the results of the Energy Review,[18] and was the co-author of EDM 2204 which states 'the case for nuclear has not yet been made' and urges the government to 'recognise the enormous potential for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by energy efficiency and conservation, greater use of combined heat and power, and rapid investment in the full range of renewable technologies, including microgeneration'.[19]
Due to the high concentration of houses in multiple occupation in Southampton, in May 2007 Whitehead proposed changing planning regulations which would mean a landlord would be required to apply for planning permission if they wanted to convert a family home into an HMO housing more than four people.[20] The proposal was considered as part of the government's current review of the private housing sector, to report in October 2008.[21]
Whitehead rebelled in October 2009 against a government 3-line whip on the renewal of the UK Trident programme. His rebellion was put down to the fact that he was a historical supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, having paid a subscription to Southampton CND in 1982.[22]
At the 2010 general election, Whitehead was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 38.5% and a decreased majority of 2,413.[23][24]
Whitehead is an outspoken supporter of action on anthropogenic climate change, and in September 2013 called debate by members of parliament who reject the scientific view a "flat earth love-in".[25]
Whitehead was again re-elected at the 2015 general election, with an increased vote share of 41.3% and an increased majority of 3,810.[26][27]
From October 2016 to April 2020, Whitehead was Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change.[29]
Whitehead was one of the 52 Labour MPs who defied Jeremy Corbyn and in February 2017 voted against triggering Article 50.[30] He claimed that triggering Article 50 without clarity on what would be done was not in the UK's best interest, and he was not prepared to stand by and allow the country to go down what he regarded as a potentially very dangerous path.[31]
At the snap 2017 general election, Whitehead was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 58.7% and an increased majority of 11,508.[32]
Whitehead was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.5% and a decreased majority of 6,213.[33]
In March 2020, Whitehead was appointed Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal.[34]
Whitehead married Sophie Wronska in 1979, and they have a son and daughter.[3]
He is a member of the Saints Trust and plays in the UK parliamentary football team. After looking at the possibility of being the first MP to install a wind turbine installed on his constituency home roof in Highfield, Southampton, Whitehead installed a number of solar panels that were integrated into the roof. During the summer months, Whitehead says he sells electricity from this source back to the national grid.
He is a visiting professor in the Faculty of Media, Arts and Society at Southampton Solent University.[36]
Notes
^Green New Deal and Energy (2020–23), Energy and Climate Change (2015–20)
