The son of a Lancashire miners' leader, he left school at 12 and fought in the First World War.
He worked in that role until 1941 when he was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament (MP) for Doncaster, having unsuccessfully contested the seat of Rossendale in 1935 and having been prospective candidate for West Toxteth in 1939.
Re-elected in the 1945 general election, he was appointed parliamentary private secretary to the Minister of Food, and served in this role until 1946.
Lord Robens commented after his death that Walkden was "an able Trade Union official and an able Parliamentarian and worked hard to bring about reforms in the rationing systems during the war.
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