The by-election was caused by the elevation to the peerage of the sitting LiberalMP, John Dewar.[1] Dewar had held the seat since 1900 and had been unopposed at the previous election in December 1910.
There was at this time no tradition of candidates from organised labour contesting Parliamentary elections in this constituency. No nominations were received from the Conservatives who were partners in the wartime Coalition and were presumably content to honour the wartime electoral truce. Morison was therefore returned unopposed.[3]