South Shields election date confirmed as 2 May

THE date of the by-election for David Miliband’s old seat of South Shields was officially confirmed as 2 May, after the former foreign secretary formally stepped down yesterday.

The by-election writ was moved in the House of Commons by Labour chief whip Rosie Winterton shortly after Mr Miliband took up the post of Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.