Harvey was elected as Member of Parliament for Macclesfield in 1945, and held the seat in seven further general elections.In the Commons, Harvey was chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee from 1966-1970. On 14 October 1969 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Macclesfield..
Harvey resigned from the House of Commons in 1971, having been elevated to the peerage as Baron Harvey of Prestbury, of Prestbury in the County Palatine of Chester. He was succeeded as MP by fellow-Conservative Nicholas Winterton.