The writ for the by-election was moved in Parliament on 10 July[3] and the returning officer, the Sheriff of Berwickshire, fixed 18 July for the nomination of candidates.[4]
Candidates
As the other political parties were collaborating in the wartime coalition government of H H Asquith, the Tories were not expected to oppose Tennant[5] and there was not, as yet, any tradition of Labour contesting Berwickshire.[6] In the absence of any other candidate, Tennant was duly returned unopposed on 18 July and, introduced by the Prime Minister and Eugene Wason MP, re-took his seat in the House of Commons on 20 July to cheers as Secretary for Scotland.[7]