[1] Willison first stood for Parliament at the 1922 general election as Liberal candidate in the Birmingham Deritend division, coming third in a three-cornered contest.
In a three-cornered contest, Willison defeated the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Sir Henry Maddocks, by a majority of 3,578 votes with Labour in third place.
The combined Liberal and Labour vote amounted to 62% of the poll and it seems likely that in a straight fight Willison would have retained the seat.
[8] It was however the Conservative, Edward North, who accrued the electoral authority of being identified with the National Government ousting Francis Smith from the seat with Willison some way back in third place.
He retained his initial connection with the Liberal National faction led by Sir John Simon.
In September 1932 the official Liberal group, led by Sir Herbert Samuel were drifting away from supporting the National Government over the Ottawa Agreements.