Career
Born in Liverpool, Hargreaves worked as a railway clerk. He joined the Labour Party and was elected to Liverpool City Council in 1928, serving until 1950. In 1945, he was the President of Liverpool Trades Council and Labour Party.
In 1949, he was appointed to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.
At the 1950 general election, Hargreaves was elected in Carlisle. He held the seat in 1951, but was defeated in 1955 and failed to regain the seat in 1959.