Whitfield was born in Gosforth in Newcastle and achieved a BA (Hons) in Business Law from Huddersfield Polytechnic. He worked as a solicitor between 1989-2001, before leaving the law profession to retrain as a teacher at the University of Edinburgh, achieving a PGCPE pass with merit in teaching in 2002.[7]
Prior to his election, Whitfield worked at Prestonpans Primary School[8] and served as a council member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland as well as a member of the EIS, Scotland's largest trade union.[9] He was also Chair of Prestonpans Community Council and involved in a number of community groups.
Whitfield was an active opponent of Brexit and a strong supporter of a second referendum, referred to as a "People's Vote".[12][13] He supported the official recognition of non-binary people in official government documentation.[14] He was one of 216 general election candidates to pledge support for the Israel Election Pledge.[15] Whitfield attracted controversy in a debate on the abuse of MPs when he claimed that "now is the time to ban anonymous social media accounts". He claimed that he was echoing similar remarks from SNP MEP Alyn Smith.[16]
In June 2018, Whitfield led an adjournment debate on the challenges faced by people with 'hidden' disabilities, particularly in relation to the use of accessible toilets and cited the Grace's Sign campaign run by a young constituent, Grace Warnock.[17] In June 2019, he led a further backbench debate on invisible disabilities and accessibility challenges, including the new Any Disability Sign.[18] Whitfield was a strong critic of the rollout of Universal Credit and was one of the first Labour MPs to call for the new benefit to be replaced entirely.[19] In October 2018, he attracted widespread praise after leading a Commons debate on World Menopause Day.[20]
Following the announcement that the US would impose tariffs on single malt Scotch whisky from 18 October 2019, Whitfield took a leading role in efforts to encourage the UK Government to persuade US counterparts to reconsider the move and co-ordinated a letter to the US Ambassador.[21] Whitfield was a member of several All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including the Timber Industries APPG, which he chaired.[22] He was also a member of the Commons' Science and Technology Select Committee.[23]
At the election, Whitfield finished in a close second place behind the SNP, with 16,789 votes and a share of 36.6%, but was elected on the South Scotland list vote.[29]
Whitfield is Labour's Parliamentary Business Manager and spokesperson for Children and Young People in the Scottish Parliament.[30]
Whitefield backed the UK Government’s decision to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment, voting in the Scottish Parliament against calls to reverse the decision.[31]
Personal life
Whitfield lives in Prestonpans, East Lothian with his family, he is married to Rachel; with two children.[9]
