He repeatedly won local council elections since he entered politics in 1976, while working for several decades as a housing manager in Cardiff.

He was first elected Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council between 1999 and 2004, and a second time in from 2008 to 2011.

[2] He is also the Welsh Local Government Association's spokesperson on Equalities, Community Safety and Social Justice.

[3] He stood in every Welsh Assembly election since its formation in 1999, and eight times for the Westminster Parliament seat of Caerphilly.

[4] Following his election to the Welsh Assembly, Whittle stood down as leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, but remained as a backbench councillor,[5][6] he was re-elected as a councillor in 2012, 2017 and 2022.