 Like most Labour MPs at that time, he lost his seat at the 1931 United Kingdom general election, but remained a member of the council in Bootle.He opposed the ILP's split from Labour in 1932, and stood as a Labour Party candidate at the 1935 United Kingdom general election, but finished in second place and failed to regain his seat.Kinley was made an alderman in Bootle in 1936, remaining on the council until 1949.