The by-election was held due to the appointment as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales of the incumbent Coalition Liberal MP, Gordon Hewart.
Leicester Council Alderman and former Mayor,[2] Sir Jonathan North was approached to be the Coalition Liberal candidate.
However, Albert E. Marlow, President of the Federation of Boot and Shoe Manufacturers ended up as the Coalition Liberal candidate.
Arnold Lupton a former Lincolnshire MP was an advocate of Liberal re-union and offered to stand as a compromise candidate.
[4] The Liberals ultimately selected St Albans City Councillor Wilberforce Allen.