Dr Alan Whitehead CBE
Biography
Dr Alan Whitehead CBE was appointed as a Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 11 November 2025.
Education
Minister Whitehead studied Politics and Philosophy at the University of Southampton, later receiving a PhD in Political Science from the institution.
Political career
Minister Whitehead served as Labour MP for Southampton Test between 1997 and 2024. He has previously been Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions from 2001 to 2002, been a member of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee from 2009 to 2015, and served as Shadow Minister for Energy Security from 2016 to 2024.
Career outside politics
From 1979 to 1982 he was Director of OUTSET charity, then from 1983 to 1992 he worked for the BIIT charity, where he was also a director. Minister Whitehead was elected to Southampton City Council between 1980 to 1992, and was the Leader of the Council between 1984 to 1992, where he championed innovative energy projects such as geothermal heating for the Civic Centre. He became Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Southampton Institute in 1992.
Minister of State (Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The minister is responsible for:
- biomethane
- tidal
- geothermal
- individual planning decisions
- all departmental business in the House of Lords