 A Unionist in politics, he unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary seats of Leeds East in 1892 and North Manchester in 1895.From 1895–1898 he was a member of the London County Council, representing Rotherhithe as a member of the Conservative-backed Moderate Party.In 1897 the sitting member of parliament for Deptford, Charles Darling, was appointed a judge of the Queen's Bench Division.