He was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham All Saints from 1955 to 1959, and MP for Birmingham Small Heath from 1961 to 1992. In 1992, he was made a life peer and became a Member of the House of Lords.
He held parliamentary seats for Birmingham All Saints from 1955 to 1959, and then for Birmingham Small Heath from 1961 to 1992. In 1992, he transitioned into a life peer role within the House of Lords.