THE early favourite to replace Laura Kuenssberg as BBC political editor has dropped out of the race citing “personal reasons”.
Vicki Young, who currently serves as the broadcaster’s deputy political editor, immediately emerged as a top pick to take over Kuenssberg’s position when her upcoming departure was announced last year.
Young, who previously served as chief political correspondent, has spent more than 15 years at the corporation after starting her career at BBC Wales.
Having served the broadcaster for seven General Elections, it was thought that Young’s experience would stand her in good stead for the top job.
The BBC was also looking to bring in another woman to replace Kuenssberg, according to Politico.
But on Sunday afternoon, Young (above) indicated that this is not her time to become political editor.
“Been getting lots of nice messages about #BBC Political Editor job so wanted to let you all know that for personal reasons I won’t be applying,” she tweeted. “But look forward to supporting whoever gets this incredible role.”
It is understood that Vicki Young’s husband is being treated for cancer.
Young’s announcement prompted kind messages from fellow senior journalists, including Mirror political editor Pippa Crerar who called her the “one of the best in the business”.
Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy added that it was a “shame”, telling the journalist: “Have been saying how good you’d be.”
With Young out, the race to become BBC political editor is narrowing. Among the favourites now are Jon Sopel (above), the corporation’s former North America editor who has recently returned to Britain, current BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale, media editor Amol Rajan and Newcast host Adam Fleming.
The change in political editor will come at a difficult time for the BBC, with Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries suggesting this weekend that the next announcement about the BBC licence fee “will be the last”.
She indicated she is keen to look at setting up a new funding model for the BBC – at the same time as Boris Johnson was rumoured to be setting out red meat policies for his supporters in an effort to win back trust amid partygate.
Various reports say Dorries is expected to announce later this week that the licence fee will be kept at the current rate of £159 until April 2024. The Telegraph also reports that a “new funding model” is expected to be found by 2027 when the Royal Charter is due to be renewed.
Shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell hit out over the news, telling Times Radio on Monday: “We’ve just got to recognise what it is that we are getting for that payment – which is actually incredibly cheap, even when you compare it to many of the commercial competitors out there – what you get as value, because we all pay in a small amount, what the BBC is able to do.”
READ MORE: BBC chief would give flat Earther more time if more believed conspiracy
“Let’s not get away from the fact that this so-called announcement, which was on Twitter yesterday, which is effectively the end of the BBC as we know it, a huge policy announcement, is nothing more than a really obvious, pathetic distraction from a Prime Minister and a Government who has run out of road and whose leadership is hanging by a thread.”
The annual BBC licence payment normally changes on April 1 each year and is set by the UK Government, who announced in 2016 that it would rise in line with inflation for five years from April 1 2017. It is reported to be worth around £3.2 billion to the BBC.
The corporation has previously come under fire over the abolition of free TV licences for all over-75s, with a grace period on payment because of the Covid-19 pandemic having ended on July 31.
Only those who receive pension credit do not have to pay the annual sum.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel