MP gives Research Fortnight an election date hint

Ok, we all pretty much know that the UK General Election is going to be held on 6 May, to coincide with the local elections, just like last time. The timing of tomorrow's Budget offers another hint. But the government won't confirm it until Gordon Brown officially calls the election, so we're left to read the tea leaves to look for clues that support our suspicions.

I got one of those hints this afternoon. While meeting with my MP, Labour's Neil Gerrard, to discuss libel reform, he casually mentioned "we only have 8 sitting days left" in this parliament. Taking the Easter recess into account, this would put an election call on 8 April, four weeks before 6 May. What more evidence do you need?