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Laura Kuenssberg expected to be confirmed as new BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg confirmed as the BBC's first female political editor
(34 minutes later)
Newsnight presenter and chief correspondent Laura Kuenssberg is expected to be confirmed as the BBC’s new political editor after her appointment was briefly tweeted by a senior BBC news executive. Newsnight presenter and chief correspondent Laura Kuenssberg has been confirmed as the BBC’s first female political editor.
If confirmed, Kuenssberg, one of the favourites to land the role, would succeed Nick Robinson, who is joining the presenting team on Radio 4’s Today. She would also be the BBC’s first female political editor. Kuenssberg, one of the favourites to land the role, succeeds Nick Robinson, who is joining the presenting team on Radio 4’s Today.
The BBC’s head of newsgathering, Jonathan Munro, tweeted the “breaking media news” on Wednesday that she was the corporation’s new political editor. Tony Hall, the BBC director general, described her as an “exceptional journalist”.
His post was hastily deleted, but not before it had already been retweeted. The BBC was not available for comment at the time of publication. Hall said: “Her knowledge of Westminster politics is second to none, but she also has a real flair for asking the questions the audience want answering.”
@MatthewBayley @jonathancmunro @bbclaurak pic.twitter.com/vQKlKt7F3a James Harding, the BBC’s director of news, said: “Her intelligence and curiosity, judgment and passion stood out in a field of extremely strong candidates.”
Kuenssberg is understood not to have been contacted by BBC management before the tweet went out. The BBC’s former chief political correspondent, Kuenssberg was seen as the leading contender to replace Robinson. She first joined the BBC in 2000. Such was her ubiquitousness on the small screen that at one point a journalist coined the phrase “Kuenssbergovision”.
The BBC’s former chief political correspondent, Kuenssberg was seen as the leading contender to replace Robinson.
Kuenssberg first joined the BBC in 2000. Such was her ubiquitousness on the small screen at one point that a journalist coined the phrase “Kuenssbergovision”.
She switched channels in 2011 to become business editor for ITV News, before returning to the BBC at the beginning of last year to join BBC2’s Newsnight.She switched channels in 2011 to become business editor for ITV News, before returning to the BBC at the beginning of last year to join BBC2’s Newsnight.
The BBC was said to be keen to appoint a woman to the role to give its political coverage more gender balance.The BBC was said to be keen to appoint a woman to the role to give its political coverage more gender balance.
Robinson’s switch to the Today programme was announced earlier this month. It followed the announcement that the programme’s second longest serving presenter, James Naughtie, will be standing down in the new year.Robinson’s switch to the Today programme was announced earlier this month. It followed the announcement that the programme’s second longest serving presenter, James Naughtie, will be standing down in the new year.
Related: BBC political editor Nick Robinson to become presenter on TodayRelated: BBC political editor Nick Robinson to become presenter on Today
Kuenssberg began her career on the BBC’s north-east and Cumbria programmes and won a Royal Television Society award as home affairs correspondent.Kuenssberg began her career on the BBC’s north-east and Cumbria programmes and won a Royal Television Society award as home affairs correspondent.
She later joined The Daily Politics as a reporter in 2003 and has also worked on Radio 4’s Today programme, BBC1’s Breakfast, and Newsnight.She later joined The Daily Politics as a reporter in 2003 and has also worked on Radio 4’s Today programme, BBC1’s Breakfast, and Newsnight.
News of Kuenssberg’s appointment was briefly tweeted by a senior BBC news executive shortly before her new job was confirmed by the corporation on Wednesday afternoon.
The BBC’s head of newsgathering, Jonathan Munro, tweeted the “breaking media news” that she was the corporation’s new political editor.
His post was hastily deleted, but not before it had already been retweeted.
@MatthewBayley @jonathancmunro @bbclaurak pic.twitter.com/vQKlKt7F3a
Kuenssberg is understood not to have been contacted by BBC management before the tweet went out.