Latham was born with the surname Lathan in Norwich, and changed his name in order to distinguish himself from his elder brother, who also had a political career.

Latham had retrained as an accountant and continued his involvement in London politics, fighting the general elections of 1922 and 1923 in Hendon.

[1] When Morrison was appointed to the Government in the wartime Coalition, he chose Latham as his successor as leader of the council.

[2] The circumstances of the time made civil defence of London the top priority for the council, and normal party politics were suspended.

This was a highly controversial policy within the party, and two members of the committee drawing up the report voted against it, with four others unable to agree on the distribution of powers between various local government bodies.

Latham had served on the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) since 1935, and, within a month of his resignation as Leader of the LCC, his appointment as chairman of the London Transport Executive (LTE), which was to replace the LPTB from 1 January 1948, was announced by the Labour Government on 20 August 1947.

[4] Lord Ashfield, chairman of the outgoing LPTB, resigned the post on 31 October 1947, and Latham filled the role temporarily until the Board was abolished at the end of that year.

He was made a peer from 1942 (when he was LCC Leader) and held public appointments later on the Metropolitan Water Board and the Standing Advisory Committee on Pay of the Higher Civil Service.