Hayhoe was elected the national chairman of the Young Conservatives in 1952 and left the civil service to contest Lewisham South at the 1964 election. He then worked for the Conservative Research Department.
In 1952, Hayhoe became the national leader of the Young Conservatives and subsequently left his government position to compete in the 1964 election for Lewisham South. Following that, he joined the Conservative Research Department.