 In 1937, Irvine stood as a Liberal candidate at Bethnal Green North East in the London County Council elections.In his first two unsuccessful parliamentary contests in Kincardine and Western Aberdeenshire in 1935 and 1939, Irvine was a Liberal Party candidate, but later joined the Labour Party.After two further election defeats in Twickenham in 1945 and Aberdeen South in 1946, he was eventually elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Liverpool Edge Hill at the 1947 by-election.