hˈɔːɹnɚz fˈɜːst pəlˈɪɾɪkəl ɐfˌɪlɪˈeɪʃən wʌz sˈoʊʃəlˌɪst ænd kˈɛɹ hˈɑːɹdi, hˌuː hɐdbɪn ᵻlˈɛktᵻd ˌɛmpˈiː fɔːɹ mˈɜːðɚ tˈɪdfɪl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd, wʌz hɪz fˈɜːst pəlˈɪɾɪkəl hˈiəɹoʊ.
Horner's first political affiliation was socialist and Keir Hardie, who had been elected MP for Merthyr Tydfil in 1900, was his first political hero.