For the subsequent by-election on 19 February, Yeo was selected as Liberal candidate [9] and held the seat in a tight contest against the Conservative challenge, albeit by a small and much reduced majority.

[10] The Unionist candidate's performance was clearly given a boost by the Conservative victory in nearby Bethnal Green South West a by-election which had been caused by the resignation of Charles Masterman to become Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the result of which had declared the day before.

[6] A further reason for the small majority may have been what was reported to have been splits and disagreements in the local Liberal party with some elements having supported Sir Victor Horsley, the scientist and surgeon, as potential candidate over Yeo.

[13][14] Along with John Ward, Yeo was a vocal critic of the mui-tsai system, a form of Chinese child slavery then prevalent in colonial Hong Kong.

[16] At the 1922 general election, Yeo fought South Poplar as a National Liberal supporting outgoing prime minister David Lloyd George.

[17] Yeo tried to get back into Parliament at the 1923 general election when he stood for the reunified Liberal Party at the Northamptonshire seat of Kettering but he came bottom of the poll in a three-cornered contest.

[3] Yeo also supported a campaign led by the Duchess of Hamilton for slaughterhouse reform and spoke at a number of public meetings to demand an end to what were described as cruel methods of slaughtering animals for food and calling for the compulsory introduction of mechanically operated humane-killers.

[21] Asked to recall his proudest moment in government or public service, Sir Alfred said this had been when the old age pension was raised from 7/6d to ten shillings largely as a consequence of his efforts.