Along with Donald Wade in Huddersfield, Holt owed his election to a pact with local Conservatives with each party allowing the other a free run in one of the two constituencies that made up the town. Without a Tory opponent Holt was able to defeat the sitting Labour MP John Lewis at the 1951 general election and held the seat for 13 years until the pact broke down following the Liberals’ decision to contest the Bolton East by-election in November 1960. Holt served as Liberal Chief Whip 1962-63 and was President of the Liberal Party 1974-75.