Peter Whittle, Founder of New Culture Forum, Passes Away
Peter Whittle, the founder of the New Culture Forum and former UKIP deputy leader, has passed away at the age of 64, as announced by his organization on Friday. He succumbed to stage 4 esophageal cancer, which he revealed just weeks before his death. Whittle died on Thursday night, surrounded by family and friends.
Known for his unique sense of humor and generosity within Westminster’s right-wing political circles, Whittle initially made his mark in television, focusing on cultural programming and writing columns on arts topics. He eventually transitioned into politics and was elected to the London Assembly as a member of Nigel Farage’s UKIP party.
Whittle led the UKIP group in London and later served as the party’s deputy leader. However, he distanced himself from UKIP as it fell into disrepute after Farage’s departure.
During his time in the Assembly, he often made the news due to his conflicts with London Mayor Sadiq Khan. He was one of the early voices suggesting that a “Rotherham-style sexual grooming gang situation” might be present in London—a claim that was initially dismissed but is now being taken more seriously by authorities.
A strong advocate for Brexit, Whittle expressed in the lead-up to the 2016 referendum that the British public had lost trust in the conventional political and media establishments, believing they would choose to leave the EU to shake up the system. He envisioned a “great rebirth” for the country amid ongoing stagnation.
In 2006, Whittle established the New Culture Forum, which he continued to lead until his passing. He was scheduled to chair the NCF’s annual lecture on Wednesday, which would have discussed the question of whether Britain can be saved, especially as the demographic landscape is changing rapidly. Unfortunately, due to his health, he was unable to attend.
In May, Whittle disclosed his cancer diagnosis in a statement, noting that he had been undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, which had not proven effective.
