Born in 1943, Whitty was educated at Latymer Upper School[1] and graduated from St John's College, Cambridge, with a BA (Hons) degree in Economics.

He was part of the reforming leadership of Neil Kinnock; in the role progressed a wide-ranging agenda including the modification of internal rules, a shift towards a national membership scheme, the expulsion of entryist Militant group members and, following the 1987 election defeat, the internal Policy Review.

From 1997 Lord Whitty was a Lord-in-Waiting (Government Whip) covering education and foreign affairs.

He became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA with responsibility for Farming, Food and Sustainable Energy in June 2001, serving in this position until the general election of May 2005.

He is the brother of Geoff Whitty, a former director of the Institute of Education, London University.