'Thoroughly modern Miliband texts vote'

South Shields MP David Miliband has taken full advantage of the new ways to register votes in the local elections, which include voting by text message, online voting via the internet, and postal voting.

South Tyneside has been chosen by the Government to be one of several key pilot areas chosen from across the country to be part of a scheme trialling these new methods of voting

As a resident of the Westoe ward, Mr Miliband sent his vote in by text message, a new innovation for the 2003 elections in South Tyneside.

Mr Miliband said "It is important that as many people as possible vote to elect their local councillors. These new methods of voting are designed to make voting easier for everyone, and I would urge anyone who has not yet voted to do so, by any of the available methods."