Carr continued to work in Education in local schools as a behaviour support consultant. In January 2004 he was selected as Liberal Democrat candidate for Rossendale and Darwen constituency. He stood for Rossendale Borough Council in Greensclough ward in the 2004 local election, losing by 40 votes. He was selected to fight a council by-election in Longholme ward in autumn 2004 but his nomination papers were not submitted in time. Living in Weir, he called on Rossendale Borough Council to fence off a "deathtrap" building site where local children had been seen playing. At the 2005 general election he came third with 6,670 votes.