BBC’s next political editor should be ‘pro-Brexit’ says senior Conservative MP

It was reported on Thursday that current BBC political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, is in talks to step down from the position after six years in the role. Jon Sopel, the BBC’s outgoing US editor, is the individual currently tipped to replace her. 

Following this news, Julian Knight MP, chair of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, told The Telegraph that the top political reporting job at the BBC should go to a Brexiteer.

Knight, who backed Remain in the 2016 EU referendum, has said that the BBC should “throw the net wider” and that Kuenssberg’s departure could be an opportunity for the BBC, maybe, to look at journalists who had a much more pro-Brexit [approach]”.

He added: “In front of our committee, [BBC director general] Tim Davie could not name any senior person he had employed during his watch who supported Brexit. Maybe this is a chance to correct that.”

In 2017, Knight led a 76-strong group — made up mainly of Conservative MPs — in writing a letter to senior BBC figures accusing the broadcaster of failing in its duty to be impartial over Brexit.