 He joined the Labour Party in 1947, and was re-elected as councillor for Shettleston and Tollcross in 1949.Galpern served as convener of the education committee (1954-1958), before being appointed in 1958 as leader of the Labour group on Glasgow Corporation and leader of the city's administration.He served as Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1958 to 1960 (the first Jewish provost in Scotland).