Born in Edinburgh, Hough was orphaned at the age of six months, and was brought up by an aunt who lived in Yorkshire.
In 1919, he was elected as Vice-President of the YMA, a post he held for many years.
In 1910, he stood for election to the West Riding County Council for the Labour Party, with the support of the ILP.
He also stood unsuccessfully in Don Valley at the 1918 general election.
[1] In 1943, Hough was elected to the executive of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, using his position to advocate for the nationalisation of the coal mines.