Borrell leads tributes to Phillip Whitehead MEP

MEPs have being paying tribute to British socialist deputy, Phillip Whitehead, who died suddenly on December 31 at the age of 68.

Whitehead, a former television journalist and national MP, was the chairman of the European Parliament’s powerful internal market and consumer protection committee.

“Phillip was a highly respected member of this house,” said President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, in a statement on Tuesday.

“He will be remembered for the wisdom, political skill and good humour he brought to bear in dealing with the controversial and complex Services Directive.”

British Labour group leader in the parliament, Gary Titley, said Whitehead’s death left a “huge void which we will never properly fill”.

“He had a fine analytical mind which, combined with his vast experience in politics and the media, made him a formidable parliamentarian,” said Titley.

Fellow Labour party colleague, Richard Evans, called Whitehead “irreplaceable”.

Whitehead was born on May 30 1937 in Derbyshire and studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford university.

He also served for two years as an army officer in the Royal West African Frontier Corps as part of the UK’s then national service requirement.

Originally drawn to the UK’s centre right Conservative party while still a student, Whitehead jumped political ships and joined the UK Labour party in 1961.

“I started on the left of the Tory party,” said Whitehead in an interview with the Parliament Magazine in 2004, “but found I couldn’t win any arguments, the socialist case was just that much stronger.”

After university, he began a career in television, editing and producing the groundbreaking current affairs shows, ‘This Week’ and ‘Panorama’ as well as the Emmy award winning series ‘The World at War’.

Whitehead became a Westminster MP for Derby North in 1970, serving on the Labour front bench as spokesman for arts and education.

He helped introduce laws on police complaints, family planning and on adoption.

Adopted himself, Whitehead played a leading role in the 1975 Children’s bill which provided adoptive children’s rights to trace their biological parents.

Whitehead lost his UK seat in 1983, and returned successfully to television.

He became an MEP in 1994 and was chairman of the UK Labour party in the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004.

After the 2004 European Parliament elections he returned to Brussels as chairman of the parliament’s influential internal market and consumer protection committee.

Whitehead had been praised for his role in steering parliament’s position on the controversial ‘Services’ Directive.

A champion of consumer rights throughout his career, Whitehead was keen to ensure that his chairmanship of the committee reflected the desires and aspirations of ordinary citizens.

“We need good legislation effectively and fairly applied at the point of delivery,” said Whitehead when taking up his new role, adding, “If we can’t do that then we’ve failed.”

Political opponents in the UK Conservative and Liberal groups also expressed their sadness at Whitehead’s death.

“Even though we are not of the same political persuasion, his contribution to the European Parliament and on behalf of his constituents was notable and we shall miss him very much,” said British Conservative group leader Timothy Kirkhope.

Graham Watson, the parliament’s Liberal group leader, said that Whitehead was a “first class parliamentarian” and a “genuine pluralist.”

“He will be missed by MEPs of all mainstream political parties,” said Watson.

The complex political carve up of the parliament’s committee posts gurantees that the Whitehead's post will be retained by UK Labour.

Fellow Labour MEP on the internal market committee, Arlene McCarthy, is expected to be a front runner to replace Whitehead as committee chair.

But party sources say that no decision will be taken until after Whitehead’s funeral on January 13.

UK Labour MEPs are elected on a regional list system, and conventionally the next candidate on the list will be invited to replace Whitehead.

Topping the 2004 European Parliamentary elections regional list for the East Midlands - after Whitehead - was GMB trade union activist, Glenis Willmott, though again, no official decision will be taken until after January 13, said party sources.

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