Sir Samuel Savery the sitting Conservative MP died aged 77 on 27 December 1938, creating a vacancy.
The Liberals also tried to get the Labour party to agree to support a joint Independent Progressive candidate, with Mackinnon offering to withdraw.
[7] The presence of Chichester-Constable on the ballot paper was thought most likely to damage the Conservative candidate, particularly given his support among the farming community.
The National Farmers Union sent a questionnaire on farming policy to all four candidates[9] so that they could provide feedback and voting guidance to their members.
Bartlett said it was "clear that Europe is preparing for another dangerous crisis in the near future between the forces of democracy and Fascism".
The combined Liberal and Labour vote was far greater than the Conservative vote, suggesting that an Independent Progressive candidate would have won the seat; After the election, Schultz ceased being Labour's candidate,[19] indicating that the party may have decided not to contest the seat at a 1939/40 general election, allowing Mackinnon a straight fight with Braithwaite.
Deprived by the outbreak of war of another crack at Holderness, Aline Mackinnon retired from active politics.