White worked as a registration agent[3] for his father during his unsuccessful campaign as a Liberal candidate for West Derbyshire in the 1910 General Election.
At the onset of the First World War, he joined the 6th Notts and Derbyshire Battalion of the Territorial Force,[4] a reserve formation of the British Army, in October 1914, gaining promotion to Corporal in November of the same year, and to Sergeant in March 1915, serving in the UK until his discharge from active service in 1917.
In common with many other early supporters, he left as soon as the fascist character of the movement became clear, but this was to become a point of contention during his later political career.
In an acrimonious campaign[3][8] White pressed for social change, securing the support of local Labour activists, and won[9] with a remarkable swing, polling over four thousand votes more than the second-placed Conservative candidate.
During his time in Parliament, White's limited contributions to debate[11] focused mostly on agricultural and labour issues together with electoral reform.
[citation needed] White was appointed a CBE[14] in the New Year's Honours list of 1951 in recognition of his political and public works.