At the 1929 general election, he stood as a Liberal candidate in the safe Labour Party-held constituency of Rhondda West, losing heavily to the sitting Labour MP William John. In October 1930 he was chosen as Liberal candidate for the more winnable Southport seat but at the 1931 general election, he was well beaten by the Conservative candidate. Soon after Hughes joined the Labour Party, and stood unsuccessfully as the Labour candidate in the Cardiganshire constituency at the 1935 general election.