 He was headmaster of Rosegrove County Modern School, Burnley until his election as Member of Parliament for Heywood and Radcliffe at the 1945 general election, when he defeated the sitting Conservative MP, James Henry Wootton-Davies, by 892 votes.During his adult life he visited Russia twice, and broadcast on radio on the subject.After being elected to Parliament Whittaker suffered bouts of ill-health, first influenza after which he returned to his parliamentary duties against doctor's orders, then collapsing in Manchester.