The by-election was caused by the appointment of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) for Bedford, Frederick Kellaway, to the office of Postmaster General.

After 1916, Kellaway supported the Coalition government of David Lloyd George and held ministerial office at the Ministry of Munitions and as Secretary for Overseas Trade.

Riley questioned the government’s policy towards Ireland, especially its repression of nationalist protest and called for a capital levy to help reduce the national debt.

[7] In his letter of support for Kellaway the prime minister described the Coalition as an example of a government committed to all regardless of class, clearly making a contrast with the centre-right view of Labour as a socialist and sectarian party.

[12] Kellaway declared the result a triumph for Parliamentary government and against direct action, nationalization or other ‘foreign fads introduced into the country’.