 He served as Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge University from 1935 to 1950 and, on the abolition of university constituencies, for the Carlton Division of Nottinghamshire from 1950 to 1966.He served in government as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education from 1951 until October 1954.He was awarded the degree of LittD by Cambridge University in 1936, created a baronet in 1959 and appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1964.