[2] It was widely believed that the seat was marked out for Sir George McCrae, former MP for Edinburgh East.
The Chief Liberal Whip of the Coalition government, Neil Primrose was standing down and if a seat could be found for him the position was to be offered to McCrae.
[5] Parrott was described as a Gladstonian Liberal of the old school with a loyalty to Mr Asquith[6] but his selection ahead of the government's preferred choice was not challenged by the prime minister.
There was no history of any parties representing the Labour movement intervening in any Edinburgh seats since their creation for the 1885 general election.
His loyalty to Asquith caused him to stand as an Independent Liberal in Edinburgh West in 1918 but he lost to a Coalition Conservative in a three cornered contest with Labour.