 He was elected to Sheffield Town Council in 1887, representing St George's ward, and also to the Sheffield School Board in 1893, and the Board of Guardians in 1894.He was proposed as a candidate for the 1894 Sheffield Attercliffe by-election, although this was opposed by much of the Liberal Party, who did not want a worker as a candidate.This experience increased support for the new Independent Labour Party (ILP), with which Hobson had some sympathy, although he never joined, instead retaining membership of the Liberal group on the council.