BBC political editor Kuenssberg to step down

After nearly 7 years, Laura Kuenssberg, political editor at the BBC, will be leaving in April. She took over in 2015 from Nick Robinson, becoming the first woman to hold the position.

The broadcaster said she would take on “a range of news and current affairs projects across TV, radio and online”, adding that further details will be announced next year.

Previously, Kuenssberg served as the corporation’s chief political correspondent. She has also previously worked at the BBC as a home affairs correspondent, producer, presenter and reporter. She was also a business editor at ITV News.

In 2016, Kuenssberg was awarded Broadcaster of the Year by the Political Studies Association and was also honored as Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards.

BBC director of news Fran Unsworth said: “Laura’s a born journalist and she’s done an amazing job as political editor. She’s an energetic and determined story-getter, who gets straight to the heart of the issue and knows exactly the right questions to ask.

“Our political coverage would have been immeasurably poorer without Laura as political editor. We’re lucky to have her.”