Birmingham East (UK Parliament constituency)

It consisted of the wards of Duddeston and Nechells, the local government district of Saltley, and the hamlet of Little Bromwich.

In the 1918 redistribution of parliamentary seats, the Representation of the People Act 1918 provided for twelve new Birmingham divisions.

Matthews was appointed Home Secretary, requiring a by-election.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected; Birmingham East was used in BBC sitcom Yes Minister, and Jim Hacker was its MP.

During the declaration of the result, Hacker was shown wearing a white rosette.