The party won the subsequent by-election, but all three of its MPs had since defected to the Labour Party. With the ILP in sharp decline, and given that the Labour Party intended to contest the seat, commentators did not expect the ILP to retain control of the seat, and concluded that it would be a Labour-Unionist contest.
The party won the subsequent by-election, but all three of its MPs had switched parties. With the ILP in decline and the Labour Party planning to run for the seat, commentators predicted a Labour-Unionist contest.