The previous Parliamentary borough of Marylebone was split up in the boundary review of 1884–85. The new Parliamentary borough consisted of the parish of St Marylebone, and therefore had identical boundaries to the St Marylebone Vestry which was the main institution of local government. The Commissioners divided the parish into two Divisions, each of which contained four of the parishes' eight wards. Marylebone West division was defined as containing the Bryanston, Hamilton Terrace, New Church Street, and Portman wards. The population in 1881 was 83,871.[1]
Diggle stood in order to test the eligibility of Church of England clergyman to stand as candidates, but if he had won he would have been disqualified from sitting in the Commons.
Another General Election was required to take place before the end of 1915. The political parties had been making preparations for an election to take place and by the July 1914, the following candidates had been selected;
Craig, F. W. S. (1989) [1974]. British parliamentary election results 1885–1918 (2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 35. ISBN0-900178-27-2.