as the other political parties were collaborating in the wartime coalition government of h h asquith, the tories were not expected to oppose tennant and there was not, as yet, any tradition of labour contesting berwickshire. 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.