when demobilised, leburn returned to the gateside mills company, where he moved into management. he became active politically as a unionist, and in 1948 was elected to fife county council. he enjoyed life on the council and was vice convener in 1951-52. leburn was selected to follow william mcnair snadden as unionist candidate for kinross and west perthshire when snadden stood down at the 1955 general election. leburn easily won what was a safe seat.