The by-election was caused by the appointment of the sitting Liberal MP, Arthur Dewar KC, who was the Solicitor General for Scotland, as a Senator of the College of Justice.

[4] At a meeting on 11 April, the local executive of the Liberal Association met to consider who the candidate should be, assuming Dewar was to be appointed to the College of Justice.

[8] The Unionists then turned to 25-year-old Ralph Campbell Glyn, the only son of the Bishop of Peterborough whose mother was the sister of the Duke of Argyll.

[11] The issue was therefore still high on the political agenda and Glyn made it the centrepiece of his adoption meeting on 20 April.

[12] This position was reinforced by the letter of support which Glyn received from the Conservative leader Arthur Balfour.

[13] Asquith's letter of support to Lyell was less colourful simply referring to the great constitutional struggle which the country and the party was engaged in and anticipating another clear Liberal win in the constituency.