The struggle to find out Mike Whitby's real age

Mar 13 2009 by Paul Dale, Birmingham Post

How old is Mike Whitby? The Tory leader of Birmingham City Council is famously touchy about his age.

“I never tell anyone how old I am, although people say I look at least six or seven years younger than I really am,” he modestly told Iron Angle.

It is possible that even Mrs W may not be absolutely certain about the date of birth of her dashing husband.

Invited to guess the age of the man who describes himself as having the heart and enthusiasm of a 21-year-old, Iron Angle went for a cautious 63.

Big mistake that turned out to be.

“Sixty-three? Sixty-three? What? I’m nowhere near 63. Nowhere near,” spluttered Whitby.

Well, if you say so, except that published biographical details of Whitby have him undertaking voluntary work to “rebuild communities shattered during the Second World War” after attending college in West Germany, which one assumes he might have left at 21.

Let’s be generous and assume the young Mike didn’t get around to helping the Germans until 15 years after the end of the war. Well, clearly that can’t be right because it would place the Peter Pan of politics in his mid-60s, at least.

Perhaps West German communities were still shattered in, say, 1970 – ­although with the post-war economic miracle well under way, it seems ­unlikely. That would make Whitby about 60 today. But 60 cannot be described as being "nowhere near" 63.

Almost none of the hundreds of press articles written about Whitby since he became council leader mention his age, but one piece in the Birmingham Post in 2003, when Whitby was elected Conservative group leader, said he was 55.

That would make him 61 this year, which also cannot be described as being nowhere near 63.

Was West Germany still war-ravaged in 1975? Yes, well, I appreciate things are getting desperate now, but that takes his age down to about 55.

Ahhh. That’s more like it.

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And despite his advanced years, Mike Whitby continues to get around a bit.

He was stalking Lord Mandelson last week, although not armed with a pot of green custard.

Labour members attending a briefing by the Business Secretary at West Brom’s Hawthorn’s stadium were astonished to be joined by Whitby.

There is no confirmation that Whitby joined in a chorus of The Red Flag, but our spy in the camp suggests he was warmly welcomed, particularly by Sandwell’s more left-wing councillors who ­regard him as one of their own.

My man dispensing the beer and sandwiches says: “There is respect for Mike among the Labour rank and file. After all he’s doing in Birmingham many of the things we should be doing in Sandwell – building council houses and libraries and improving housing and social services.”

Coun Whitby’s spokesman said the leader was there to lobby Lord ­Mandelson on behalf of the Midland car industry and added that he had an ‘enjoyable’ evening.

* Paul Dale is 52¾.