Gladstone was elected for the constituency, also known as Mid Lothian, by a majority of 211 votes in a constituency which, with the single exception of 1868, had been Conservative held territory for forty years. At the same general election, Gladstone was also elected as one of the two MPs representing Leeds but, as he could not hold two seats at the same time, he stood down in Leeds and his son Herbert was returned unopposed at the subsequent by-election on 10th May.