[3] He was a strong believer in the ideals of the cooperative movement being a member of the Central Board of the Cooperative Congress for the London region[4] and of co-partnership in industry and society which he believed made industrial harmony more likely as employees gained a direct stake in the ownership and success (through profit-sharing) of the companies for which they worked.

[7] Vivian set up a company called General Builders Ltd., a practical venture into co-partnership with the aim of providing its members with work and accommodation.

[1] At the invitation of the Governor-General, Vivian made a tour of Canada in 1910 to promote similar schemes and lecture on town planning, housing conditions, sanitation and public health.

In December 1910 however, when he was subject to attacks from the left accusing him of being 'the workers' enemy' and urging socialists to vote against him,[14] he lost to the Unionists.

[6] Vivian got a chance to re-enter the House of Commons in 1911 when the Liberal MP for South Somerset, Sir Edward Strachey, was given a peerage, causing a by-election.

Herbert entered polling day in a mood of great optimism[18] and duly emerged as the new MP with a majority of 148 votes over Vivian.

[19] Vivian had no wish to end his political career and was adopted as Liberal candidate for the new north London constituency of Edmonton in 1917.

[22] By the time of the 1923 general election, the two wings of the Liberal Party had re-united and Vivian was chosen as candidate for Totnes in his home county of Devon.