Since 2009, Pinkerton has worked as an academic at Royal Holloway. At the time of his election to Parliament in 2024, he was a reader (associate professor) of geopolitics.[5][6] He served as an accredited observer of the 2013 Falkland Islands sovereignty referendum, and has conducted research in regions affected by international disputes and geopolitical tensions.[3][7]
In the 2024 general election, Pinkerton was elected as MP for Surrey Heath with 44.8 per cent of the vote and a majority of 5,640.[11] He became the first non-Conservative MP to represent the area in 118 years.[12]
On 18 September 2024, Ed Davey announced his new Frontbench Team. Al Pinkerton became Spokesperson for Northern Ireland within the team.[13]