‘Sickly and partially deaf’, Brackley briefly represented North Staffordshire after being elected in controversial circumstances in 1847. Having stood as a Liberal and a Peelite in two constituencies, he secured the endorsement of his Whig aunt, the duchess of Sutherland only to stand as ‘the Conservative, Protectionist & No Popery candidate’. An observer noted that Brackley ‘had sided with all parties in his attempts to get into Parliament’.