Constituency : Pontefract 1919-22, Batley and Morley 1924-9
Walter's victory at Pontefract was another hold for the Coalition Liberals . He won by a fairly comfortable margin over Labour.
Walter was the son of a Leeds textile manufacturer. He was a partner in his father's firm and developed interests in investment trusts, insurance and heavy industry. He was a member of Pudsey Town Council and Mayor from 1909 to 1912. He was also a West Riding county councillor.
Walter was briefly PPS to the Postmaster-General in 1922.
In 1922 Unionist intervention handed the seat to Labour with Walter coming third. In 1923 , he stood for Batley and ran the Labour MP Ben Turner close in a straight fight. In 1924 he won the seat against the trend. In 1929 he was soundly defeated by Turner in their third straight contest.
In 1931 Walter joined the Conservatives citing his loss of faith in Free Trade although shortly afterwards he decided to align with Simon's Liberal Nationals instead. He was knighted in 1935 and was an executive member of the Liberal National Council.
Walter was part of the Society of Yorkshiremen in London.
He died in 1939 aged 69.
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