The by-election was caused by the death of the sitting Liberal National MP, Richard John Russell on 5 February 1943.

He was also commander of the Frodsham detachment of Cheshire Volunteer Regiment, director of the firm Carter and Sons Ltd., and active member of the Gilbert Greenall Lodge No 1250.

Former Liberal MP, Richard Acland had formed the Common Wealth Party in 1942 expressly to fight by-elections in opposition to the all-party electoral truce.

Loverseed was a 33-year-old fighter pilot with the RAF who had fought in the Battle of Britain and before that, on the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War.

Peacock received a joint letter of endorsement from all the leaders of the parties in the coalition, including Sir Archibald Sinclair, much to the irritation of Heathcote Williams.

The Peacock campaign used the slogan "Hitler is watching Eddisbury" in the hope that it would stir feelings of Patriotic duty among the electorate.

[2] Common Wealth party leader Richard Acland put much of his own money into funding Loverseed's campaign, which also had the financial backing of Alan Good, head of Brush Electrical Engineering Co. Ltd. Ronald William Gordon Mackay was appointed as Loverseed's agent.

Loverseed proved to be a strong campaigner who 'captured the imagination of the working classes and the young people and made a real stir.'