Burnley was one of the SDF's most important branches, and Irving kept its profile high. In the 1906 general election, SDF leader H. M. Hyndman stood in the Burnley constituency, and came within 350 votes of winning the seat. In 1902, Irving was elected to Burnley Town Council, a post he held (with one gap) until 1922.
In 1911, Irving followed the SDF into the formation of the British Socialist Party. In 1914, he was a supporter of British action in World War I, and as a result, when the SDF split on the issue, he joined Hyndman's new group, the National Socialist Party. This group affiliated to the Labour Party, and as a Labour candidate he was finally able to win a Parliamentary seat, taking Burnley in the 1918 general election. He held the seat in 1922 and 1923, but remained a low-profile MP and died in 1924 aged 69.
In 1921 Irving gave evidence to the Select Committee on Members' Expenses.[1] He said that it was not possible for him to live on the salary of £400 that MPs received.[1] He had to keep up his house in Burnley and also pay £165 for a third-class railway pass.[1] He rented a single room when in London.[1] He spoke of feeling "a little sense of humiliation" when in contact with other MPs who did not have to think so carefully about what they spent.[1]
