1917 Islington East by-election

[2] However, during the First World War there was an electoral truce between the main political parties by which it was agreed that all by-election vacancies would be filled unopposed.

The National Party announced their intention to campaign in the election against the government practice of ‘peerage-mongering’ and ‘seat-selling’ and urged electors to join their crusade against the scandal of the sale of honours.

Two other possible ‘patriotic’ candidates, Allen Clark and Robert Forsyth decided not to seek nomination once they knew that a ‘Vigilante’ was in the field and supported Baker's campaign.

The ships then seem to have got lost in the fog and drifted over France where eight of the eleven airships were reported to have been brought down or so disabled they were forced to land.

[9] The news that it had been left to French airmen to destroy the fleet which had attacked London caused resentment in England and was said to have given a considerable impetus to Baker's campaign.

[7] It was reported on the day before polling that questions relating to air operations, both defensive and offensive, were now dominating the East Islington contest.