As a Liberal, he was one of Gladstone's keen supporters, and was elected as an MP for Nottingham in 1865, and later Bristol (1868–85). There were two statues made in his honor in Bristol and in Nottingham. Only the Bristol monument survives today with the Nottingham statue having been destroyed in transit in the making of new inner city roads at the turn of the century. The statue of Morley stood outside the popular Theatre Royal. After the ruin of the statue a new sculptural bust was commissioned by Joseph Else (Principal of the Art School 1923-39) also known for the famous 'Lions' oustide the Nottingham Council House. The statue still exists today in the Arboretum Park Nottingham close to original art school which is now Nottingham Trent University.