His Military and political career came to a premature end when his colourful private life brought about a court judgment against him and resulted in his bankruptcy.
At his adoption meeting at Ulverston on 28 October, Kennedy declared he stood for the broadest principles of the Conservative Party, with a broad-minded view of modern conditions.
He spoke at Dalton Co-operative Hall on 30 October, where he was heckled; challenged to support full maintenance for the unemployed, Kennedy said that the country could not afford it.
[11] At a meeting in Ulverston on 4 November where many of the audience were unemployed, Kennedy called for industry entirely free from Government interference, and for private enterprise to build the homes needed in Britain.
[13] He took the oath on 21 November 1922,[14] and was named to Standing Committee B on 6 March 1923,[15] but had never spoken in the Chamber, nor asked a question, by the time Parliament was suddenly dissolved a year later and he had to defend his seat.
[16] Kennedy's only recorded contribution to debate came on 24 April 1923 when he spoke on Clause 8 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Bill in Standing Committee B.
[17] His lack of activity was not prominently raised in the local campaign during the 1923 general election, but at the Dalton Co-operative Hall his arrival was greeted with cries of "The silent Member" and "When are you going to make your maiden speech?"
The Times's correspondent thought that the farming policy of the government was crucial, despite the presence of industrial centres in some towns, and so Kennedy would depend on the agricultural vote.
The story accepted by the court was that in January 1940 Kennedy had met Marie Harrison, head barmaid at the Grand Hotel in Leicester, telling her that he was wealthy enough to pay £1,200 a year in surtax.
The judge, Mr Justice Croom-Johnson, referred the case to the Official Referee who on 13 January 1941 ordered Kennedy to pay £2,000 damages, with costs.
[26] As he was unable to pay, on Friday 17 January 1941 an auction of Kennedy's belongings (including antique furniture, books, a Rover saloon car, and a wireless set) was held in Ulverston.