Page "Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor" Paragraph 13

Several elements of Lady Astor's life to this point influenced her first campaign, but the main reason she became a candidate in the first place was her husband's situation.

He had enjoyed a promising career for several years before World War I in the House of Commons, but then he succeeded to his father's peerage as the 2nd Viscount Astor.

This meant that he automatically became a member of the House of Lords and forfeited his seat of Plymouth Sutton in the House of Commons.

So Lady Astor decided to contest the vacant Parliamentary seat.