 McBride began his political career by joining the Amalgamated Engineering Union in 1937 followed by the Labour Party in 1940, in addition to being part of the Co-operative Party and the Paisley Labour Party; he served as chairman of Paisley CLP 1950–62.In the October 1951, McBride contested in Perth and East Perthshire but was unsuccessful.Similarly, he lost the High Peak division of Derbyshire in 1955.