Miliband joins by-election campaign

Ed Miliband will visit South Shields to campaign in the by-election sparked by his brother David's decision to quit British politics.

Voters go to the polls in the constituency on May 2 after the former foreign secretary announced last month he was moving to New York to take up the position of president and chief executive of the International Rescue Committee.

David Miliband admitted he resigned to end the "soap opera" surrounding his relationship with his brother.

The Labour leader said at the time that British politics would be "a poorer place" without David and admitted the bruising leadership battle which pitted the two brothers against each other had been "difficult".

Labour is expected to face little difficulty in holding on to the safe seat that David Miliband retained with a 11,109 majority in the 2010 general election.

Ed Miliband will join candidate Emma Lewell-Buck, who is vying to become South Shields' first female MP, on the campaign trail.