Constituency : Berwick-upon-Tweed 1922-23
It's quite hard to work out what was going on at Berwick. In 1918 the Asquithian Francis Blake had held the seat easily against an independent with no coupon issued. When he stood down the local party selected the former Cabinet minister Walter Runciman to succeed him. Hilton stood as a National Liberal but was strongly supported by local Tories including the diehard Duke of Northumberland.
Despite an emphatic majority, Hilton's victory was challenged on the grounds he had exceeded expenditure limits and he was unseated on petition. His wife Mabel stood in his place but as a Conservative. Labour also entered the fray and she had an easy victory over a different Liberal candidate.
Hilton himself switched to the Tories but was unsuccessful at Wansbeck in 1923 and Gateshead in 1924.
Hilton was a businessman. He also served in World War One as a captain .He hit financial difficulties in the late twenties.
He died in 1941 aged 48.
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