[1] He joined the Fabian Society in 1892, and was later elected as president of Liverpool Trades Council, and vice-president of the local labour advisory board.
[3] He was known for wearing a frock coat and, for many years, a silk hat, unusual clothing for a working man of the period.
[4] Nelson became active in the Labour Party, and was elected to Liverpool City Council, representing the Low Hill ward.
[1] He sought the sponsorship of his union to contest a seat at the 1918 United Kingdom general election, but when it held a vote to decide whom to sponsor, he won the first round, but narrowly lost a run-off to Frederick Roberts.
His campaign meetings were lively affairs, with his wife singing "The Toilers", and he engaged in much personal criticism of his opponent, F. E. Smith.