 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.Whitby's colleagues suggested they were a victim of national issues playing out in the local elections, but still commentators suggest the upcoming 2012 Local Elections could be the last for the coalition.On 10 September 2013 he was created a life peer taking the title of Baron Whitby, of Harborne in the City of Birmingham.