Phillip Whitehead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phillip Whitehead
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Whitehead in 1992
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| Member of Parliament for Derby North |
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| In office 18 June 1970 – 13 May 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Niall MacDermot |
| Succeeded by | Greg Knight |
| Member of the European Parliament for East Midlands |
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| In office 9 June 1994 – 31 December 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Glenis Willmott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 May 1937 Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England |
| Died | 31 December 2005 (aged 68) Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Exeter College, Oxford |
| Profession | Politician, television producer and writer |
Phillip Whitehead (born May 30, 1937 – died December 31, 2005) was a British politician. He was a member of the Labour Party. Besides politics, he also worked as a television producer and writer.
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Who Was Phillip Whitehead?
Phillip Whitehead was an important figure in British politics and media. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the UK. Later, he became a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). He also had a successful career making TV shows and writing books.
His Early Life and Education
Phillip Whitehead was born in Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England. He was adopted by a local family in Rowsley. He went to Lady Manners School in Bakewell. After school, he studied at Exeter College, Oxford University. He earned his BA degree there.
When he was at Oxford, he followed his adoptive parents' political views. He was a Conservative at first. He even became the President of the Oxford University Conservative Association in 1961. He was also the President of the Oxford Union in the same year. The Oxford Union is a famous debating society.
Starting His Career
In the early 1960s, Phillip Whitehead started his career. He made independent documentary films. These films told real-life stories. Later, from 1967 to 1970, he worked as an editor. He worked for big TV companies like the BBC and ITV.
Working in Parliament
Phillip Whitehead first tried to become an MP in 1966 but was not successful. However, in 1970, he was elected as a Labour MP. He represented the area of Derby North. He served as an MP until 1983. In 1983, he lost his seat to Greg Knight from the Conservative Party. He tried again in 1987 but did not win.
During his time as an MP, he was part of several important committees. These committees helped make decisions for the country. For example, he was a member of the Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs. This committee helped to get rid of a law called 'sus'. He also spoke for his party on topics like higher education and the arts.
Back to Making TV Shows
After leaving Parliament in 1983, Phillip Whitehead went back to television. He worked as a producer and director. This meant he helped create and manage TV shows. He also wrote several books. Most of his books were based on the TV series he produced.
Some of his books include:
- The Writing On The Wall: Britain in the Seventies
- Dynasty: The Nehrus and the Gandhis (with Jad Adams)
- The Windsors—A Dynasty Revealed 1917–2000 (with Piers Brendon)
- Stalin, a Time for Judgement
In 1988, he gave an important speech at the Edinburgh TV Festival. This is a big event for people in the television industry.
His Time in Europe's Parliament
From 1994 until his death, Phillip Whitehead was a Labour member of the European Parliament (MEP). MEPs represent their country in the European Union. He first represented Staffordshire East and Derby. Later, he represented the East Midlands region.
In 2004, he was chosen to lead a special committee. This was the Parliamentary Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection. This committee works on rules for trade and protecting shoppers. He was also involved in other important groups. These included the European Parliament's African, Caribbean and Pacific Joint Parliamentary Assembly. He also led the European Parliamentary Labour Party.
He was a member of many European Parliament committees. These committees worked on topics like:
- Protecting the environment and public health
- Culture, youth, and education
- Relations with other countries like the Czech Republic and Bulgaria
- Looking into important issues like Foot and Mouth Disease
He also held other important roles outside Parliament. He was a director at a TV production company. He was also the Chair of the Fabian Society. This is a group that discusses political ideas. He also led the Consumers' Association, which helps protect consumers.
His Later Years and Legacy
Phillip Whitehead always stayed connected to his home county of Derbyshire. He especially loved the Bakewell area. On December 31, 2005, he became ill. He sadly passed away later that evening in a hospital in Chesterfield. He was 68 years old. His death was caused by a heart attack.
To remember his work for the city of Derby, a public library was named after him. The Phillip Whitehead Memorial Library opened in March 2013. It is located on Chaddesden Park in Derby.
