The election was triggered by the death of the sitting Unionist Member of Parliament (MP), Harry Barnston.

Russell, a 57-year-old local government Alderman on Birkenhead Town Council, had the advantage of having fought the seat at the two previous general elections and had been nursing the constituency.

Thirty-seven-year-old Fenwick Palmer (a descendant of Sir Robert Peel) was Chairman of Wrexham Conservative Association so was new to most electors in the constituency, although he was well known in Cheshire hunting circles.

The main issues in the election concerned agriculture, and the controversial land programme of Liberal leader David Lloyd George.

A couple of months later, Russell held the seat at the 1929 general election against the same Unionist opponent, with a slightly reduced majority.