Fraser was educated at the University of Edinburgh, before becoming a magistrate in North Borneo.
He became aware of the oppressive role of British rule, and resigned to become a schoolteacher in Scotland.
[1] Fraser joined the Independent Labour Party, serving as vice-chair of its Scottish area, but resigned to join the Socialist League split, and was secretary of the London Socialist League.
He was secretary of the 1936 Fabian Group, and organised a conference on socialism and non-manual workers.
He was then adopted as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for North Norfolk, but no election was held until 1945.