He soon turned to politics and unsuccessfully contested Dewsbury in 1892 and 1895. However, in 1900 he was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds East. Cautley lost this seat in 1906 when he was defeated by James O'Grady but returned to Parliament in January 1910 as MP for East Grinstead, a seat he held until 1936.
He quickly shifted to politics and ran unsuccessfully in Dewsbury in 1892 and 1895. However, in 1900 he was chosen as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Leeds East. Cautley lost this seat in 1906 when defeated by James O'Grady but returned to Parliament in January 1910 as MP for East Grinstead, a seat he held until 1936.