The by-election was caused by the elevation to the peerage of the sitting Unionist MP, Rt Hon.
From its first election as a county constituency in 1918 onwards, Canterbury was a safe Unionist seat.
The result at the last General Election was; On 15 November 1927 the local Labour Party met and decided not to run a candidate.
On 19 November 1927 voters polled in the 1927 Southend by-election which saw the Unionists hold the seat with a swing to the Liberals of less than 5%.
At an eve of poll Unionist meeting the former Canterbury MP Lord Cushendun criticised "Ignorant Liberal Bleatings".