Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Wilkinson akaberekerwa mumhuri yeManchester yaiva murombo asi yaida chinzvimbo uye akagamuchira chiSoshalist achiri muduku. Pashure pokupedza kudzidza paYunivhesiti yeManchester, akashanda sangano revakadzi revasikana uye gare gare semukuru wesangano revashandi. Akafuridzirwa neRussian Revolution ya1917, Wilkinson akabatana neBritish Communist Party, uye akaparidza socialism yechimurenga achitsvaka nzira dzebumbiro remitemo kune simba rezvematongerwe enyika kuburikidza neLabour Party. Akasarudzwa mushandi MP nokuda Middlesbrough East muna 1924, uye akatsigira 1926 General Strike
. Muhurumende yeLabour ya1929-31, akashanda saParliamentary Private Secretary kuna junior Health Minister. Akaita ukama nenhengo yechiduku yechikadzi uye murwi Jennie Lee. Kutevera kukundwa kwake kuMiddlesbrough muna 1931, Wilkinson akava mutori wenhau uye munyori, asati adzokera kuparamende seMP yaJarrow muna 1935. Akanga ari mutsigiri akasimba wehurumende yeRepublican muSpain Civil War, uye akaita kushanya kwakawanda kunzvimbo dzehondo.