A member of the Scottish Conservatives, he serves as Shadow Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform.

Whilst at school, Brian tried a wide range of sports, enjoying many of them but it was apparent that he had a natural talent for running.

Perhaps his greatest achievement, and what he is best remembered for, is the manner in which he helped Great Britain win the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1986 European Championships in Stuttgart.

Other notable performances included running 45.98 at the 1988 European Indoor Championships in Budapest winning the silver medal – a feat he repeated in 1989.

Whittle was an international schools' high jumper, and also competed in the 200m at the 1986 Commonwealth Games, making the semi-final.

[3] Whittle contested the 2015 UK general election in the constituency of Kilmarnock and Loudoun for the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, coming 3rd with 12.5% of the vote.