On the evening David Miliband stepped down as South Shields MP, we suggested that the by-election could take place on May 2nd. The short selection timetable certainly suggests a snap by-election. That appears to be the understanding of the local returning officer too – the Northern Echo reports: “Martin Swales, chief executive of South Tyneside Council and acting returning officer for the South Shields parliamentary constituency, said: “If the sitting Member of Parliament formally steps down in the next fortnight, the writ [...]