He became involved in the trade union movement studied at Ruskin College.
He also became active in the Independent Labour Party and was elected to Leeds City Council.
He then stood in Kingston upon Hull South West repeatedly, losing in 1922, 1923 and 1924.
He finally won the Hull South West seat at the 1929 general election,[1] and although his candidacy was sponsored by the ILP, he was no longer playing any part in the party, leading him to leave it when it disaffiliated from the Labour Party.
[3] Arnott lost his seat at the 1931 general election, and failed to win it back in 1935.