He was educated at Hendon County Grammar School,[3] and served with the North Staffordshire Regiment in the Second World War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

In 1948, Braine opposed GATT, arguing that it limited imperial preference.

During his long parliamentary career, Braine served as a junior Minister variously for Pensions, Commonwealth Relations and Health.

For many years he served as an unofficial ambassador of HM's government to the Polish Government-in-Exile in London.

[6] In this capacity and in collaboration with the exiled journalist Josef Josten, he campaigned vigorously for the release from prison of the dissident playwright Vaclav Havel, who later became President of the Czech Republic.