 In 1998 Whitby became the Deputy Leader of Conservative Group in Birmingham City Council, eventually becoming Group Leader in 2003.Following the 2004 Local Elections Whitby became Leader of the Council after forming a coalition with the Liberal Democrat Party in an arrangement Whitby described as a "Progressive Partnership".Whitby's Progressive Partnership's control of the Council was threatened in the Local Elections of 2011, as the Conservatives lost 6 seats and the Liberal Democrats lost 7 seats making the Labour Party the largest Group in the Council overall with 55 seats.