 He first stood as a candidate in the Midlands West European by-election in 1987, again for Midlands West in the European Parliament Elections in 1989, and then as a Westminster Parliamentary candidate for Delyn in 1992, though on both occasions he was unsuccessful he did significantly improve the Conservative vote.He achieved elected office in 1997, on winning the Harborne ward of Birmingham in a by-election.He has retained the seat since, most recently in the 2010 local election.