While he was in Parliament, he was Liberal Party spokesman on housing and pensions and he served as a Member of the Select committee on Race Relations and used this platform to warn Enoch Powell he would not be able to make immigration an election issue, saying the electorate had more immediate and pressing issues to worry them such as the cost of living. Despite this stance, Lawler's reputation inside the Liberal Party locally and nationally was somewhat tarnished by his views on Commonwealth immigration.
During his time in Parliament, Lawler held key roles, including spokesperson for housing and pensions and a member of the Select committee on Race Relations. He used this position to advise Enoch Powell that immigration would not be a viable campaign issue, instead focusing on more pressing concerns like inflation. Nevertheless, Lawler's stance on Commonwealth immigration damaged his reputation within the Liberal Party.