 In 2001 he was part of the "no campaign" which successfully campaigned against the introduction of mayors in Birmingham, whilst in 2006 and 2007 his relationship with David Cameron was reportedly strained as Whitby was identified as an opponent of the Conservative policy of directly elected mayors running large cities in England.Whitby was said to have described the debate around elected mayors as "puerile" and disputed the idea that support for the idea would form part of the forthcoming Conservative Party manifesto.At that time the Birmingham Mail campaigned in favour of a referendum for an elected Mayor for Birmingham but the campaign failed to attract anywhere near the level of public interest needed.