Several names were floated as possible Conservative candidates for the seat. On 26 November, The Times newspaper reported that those being considered included:
David MacIver, the chair of the Liverpool Conservatives who had been the MP for nearby Birkenhead from 1874 until he stood down at the 1885 general election, owing to business commitments
The Liberal Party had already adopted as their candidate for the next election William Nelson, a ship-owner and Liverpool City Councillor. By the time Kirkdale Conservative Association met on 29 November, the local executive committee had already sent a telegram to 40-year-old Austin Taylor, inviting to be their candidate. Taylor, who was president of the Laymen's League and son of the Archdeacon of Liverpool, had deferred his answer until the day of the meeting. At the meeting, the divisional council refused to be bound by the decision of their executive, and the names of David MacIver and John Houlding were also formally proposed. After a discussion described by The Times as "long and animated", a substantial majority voted to select MacIver, a ship-owner whose father Charles had been manager of the Cunard Line from 1865 to 1897. The Liberals met on 1 December, and lamented their lack of preparedness. Local ship-owner Sir Christopher Furness had been invited to stand, but declined. Another ship-owner, H. Bell, had also turned down a request, and the meeting rejected a proposal to adopt Thomas Snape, the former MP for Heywood. The meeting decided to ask the Liberalwhips in Westminster to suggest potential candidates, as a result of which an approach was made to Sir Spencer Walpole, who rejected the invitation. The Times reported that several other unsuccessful approaches had been made. Kirkdale had a large Irish Nationalist population, so any candidate needed the support of both Liberals and Nationalists, but local councillor Thomas J. Flynn also refused to accept nomination despite an offer to meet all his election expenses.
Result
By the time nominations closed on 9 December, the Liberals had still not chosen a candidate. MacIver was the only candidate nominated, so the poll had been scheduled for 15 December, but never took place. MacIver was returned unopposed.
