 He travelled to Republican Spain as part of an Anglican delegation during the Spanish Civil War, and then with Wilfred Roberts organised a reception camp for Basque child refugees.Brinton stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in Great Grimsby at the 1935 United Kingdom general election, St Ives at the 1945 United Kingdom general election, Truro at the 1950 United Kingdom general election, Scarborough and Whitby at the 1951 United Kingdom general election, and also in the 1954 Bournemouth West by-election.Unable to get selected for a winnable seat, he then decided to focus on his interests in writing and astronomy.