 He continued his education at evening classes and through correspondence courses.Ainsley joined the Labour Party and helped the party by acting as the agent running election campaigns.In 1942 he was appointed to Durham County Council (elections having been suspended during the war), where he specialised in education and became Chairman of the Education Committee; served on the council until 1956, including a term as Chair from 1953 to 1955, and as Alderman the following year.