Over a period he served on Birkenhead County Borough Council, Wirral Borough Council and finally Merseyside County Council, leading the Liberal group. He tried twice, in 1964 and 1966, to win a parliamentary seat but was unsuccessful. As President of the Liberal Party in 1977-78, he played an important role in dealing with the fall-out from the controversy relating to the activities of former party leader Jeremy Thorpe.
Over time, he held positions on various local councils, including Birkenhead County Borough Council, Wirral Borough Council, and Merseyside County Council, leading the Liberal Party group. He unsuccessfully sought parliamentary seats in 1964 and 1966. During his presidency of the Liberal Party from 1977 to 1978, he played a crucial role in addressing the fallout from Jeremy Thorpe's controversial activities.