[1] The constituency returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post voting system.

In February 1914, Sydney Buxton, the Liberal MP for Poplar since 1886, resigned to take up an appointment as Governor-General of the Union of South Africa.

The Unionist campaign was given a boost by the Conservative by-election victory in nearby Bethnal Green South West declared the day before polling day.

Alfred William Yeo held the seat for the Liberal Party with a much reduced majority.

A General Election was due to take place by the end of 1915.