The Conservative MP John Herbert had resigned his seat on 1 July 1939, having been appointed as Governor of Bengal.

The Conservative candidate was 55-year-old Leslie Pym, who had not had previously contested a parliamentary election.

Foot did not contest the by-election, when the Labour candidate was F.R.

Hancock, who had been unsuccessful in Salisbury at the 1929 general election and at a by-election in 1931.

Pym was re-elected at the 1945 general election, but died five days later.