South Glamorganshire (UK Parliament constituency)

The mining areas in the north of the constituency, including the lower reaches of the Rhondda, and the cosmopolitan town of Barry were strongly Liberal but these were juxtaposed against the conservatism of the Vale of Glamorgan and the genteel settlements of Penarth and Llandaff.

Created in the redistribution of seats in 1885 from the old Glamorganshire constituency which had been in existence since 1541, the seat covered a wide area that included Bridgend, Porthcawl, Coity, Ewenny, Ogmore, Llanharry, Llanharan, Llantwit Major, Dinas Powis, Pendoylan, Bonvilston, Barry, Penarth, Tonyrefail, Pontyclun and Beddau, and areas which are now part of Cardiff (including St Fagans, Radyr, Whitchurch, Llanishen and Lisvane).

In 1903, South Glamorgan became the focus of an internal battle within the Liberal Party around whether a labour representative should become the candidate.

Following the intervention of the Liberal Chief Whip, Brace was duly chosen and won the seat in 1906.

The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;