The constituency of Salford, South Division was created by the Redistribution of Seats Act 1885, and consisted of the following wards of the Borough of Salford: Crescent, Islington, Ordsall, St. Stephen's, and the part of Regent Ward east of the centre of Trafford Road.

[2] The Representation of the People Act 1918 reorganised constituencies throughout Great Britain and Ireland.

Salford South was redefined as consisting of seven wards of the county borough of Salford: Crescent, Islington, Ordsall, Regent, Trafford, Trinity and Weaste.

[3] The next redistribution of parliamentary constituencies took place under the Representation of the People Act 1948, and this led to the abolition of the Salford South constituency.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the Autumn of 1939, the following candidates had been selected;