The seat was safe, having been won at the 1955 United Kingdom general election by over 10,000 votes[1] On the eve of the by-election The Glasgow Herald said the campaign had been "strenuously", but cleanly fought by the candidates.
It also noted that while Labour's candidate, Robert Young, had predicted a victory for himself, such a result would be a surprise, with the contest being seen as a battle between the Unionists (as the Conservatives in Scotland were styled) and the Liberals.
[2] While Noble held the seat for the Unionists, their majority was significantly reduced, while the Liberal Party pushed Labour into third place.
[4] Young claimed that the "anti-government vote" had been split, but argued that despite winning the seat the Conservative government could not "view the result with any great satisfaction."
[4] Ultimately the Liberals did contest the seat at the next year's general election, but their new candidate Gerard Noel could only finish in third place, with Labour regaining second spot.