 He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) "for political and public services" in the King's Birthday Honours List 1949, and represented Lowestoft in the House of Commons for 14 years, until his defeat at the 1959 general election by the Conservative James Prior.In the Commons, he was noted for his contributions relating to coastal erosion in East Anglia, chairing the All Party Coast Defence Committee, and on fishery protection, frequently complaining of violations by other nations of the Overfishing Convention.He was Chairman of the Labour Party's Fisheries Committee.