 He was a councillor on Hackney Borough Council 1935–45, Woodford Borough Council 1945-48 and Essex County Council 1947–48.McAdden was Member of Parliament for Southend East from 1950 until he died in office in December 1979.His successor at the resulting by-election in March 1980 was Teddy Taylor, who had lost his seat at the previous year's general election.