 He was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1918 to 1924 and from 1931 to 1945.At the 1918 general election, he was elected as Liberal MP for Hull South West, and held the seat until he was defeated at the 1924 general election.He then devoted himself to the law and business and after joining the Conservatives in 1926 he unsuccessfully contested Bolton at the 1929 general election.