Last week I asked you to express a preference for who you would like to see succeed Nick Robinson, if he were to move on to pastures anew after the election. Fifteen hundred of you voted, and here is the result.1. Laura Kuenssberg 16%
2. John Pienaar 13%
3. Adam Boulton 12%
4. James Landale 12%
All others were 7% or below.
It's normal for BBC Political editors to retire after five years. My own view is that Nick Robinson will want to see at least a year of a new government before thinking of moving on. It's already known that both Today and Newsnight are after his services. He was superb when he did a stint on Newsnight during the summer.
Oh gods, not another bloody Jock, please! Would a 'yes' in an independence referendum mean that we could shovel the whole lot of them back north of the border?
ReplyDeleteNick Robinson has never, for me, been an especially perceptive or original political editor; more a mere megaphone for the last person he's talked to 'off the record'. Last week's humiliating trumping by Andrew Neil (ooh look, Mummy, another Jock) further damaged his credibility, in my book.
While the others are all good communicators, I'm delighted to see James Landale come in so strongly. He is an extremely under-rated, and under-used, talent. Note to self: must buy his book on duels.
I find Robinson a bit of an enigma. At uni he is president of the conservative association. So what Damascian action took place to change him so? On Newsnight he was good as the main presenter, however I cannot reconcile the change of views.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I can come up with is that he is a pragmatist and blows with the BBC winds. Being out of tune with the gov he would not have lasted long! I look with interest as to where his politics move as the BBC gets torn to pieces (I hope), with all the embedded lefties getting their P45s.
Iain, you could be correct on this one. I think it will take a year and several operations to extract him.
ReplyDeletePlease, please, please not LK. That voice and know-it-all manner. I'm all in favour of a woman, so let's have the excellent Reeeta Chakrabartri
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprising that her father's links with Labour didn't scupper her BBC political career.
ReplyDeleteCathy Newman
ReplyDeleteI agree Nick Robinson was better - tighter - than the existing Newsnight crew. Made you think what Newsnight could be.
ReplyDeleteI hope Laura wins - but that's an excess of testosterone.
ReplyDeleteActually all of them are better than "Toenails" in my opinion and both Laura K and James Lansdale have done some very good pieces.
When Toenails was away over the summer, Laura posted on his blog and the quality of the posts was much better. Since Toenails returned the blog has returned to its previous lackluster state.
[fx: phoney french accent (with english translation)]
Here are ze rezults from ze the Hawkeye jury are
Adam Boulton: nil point (Adam boton no points)
John Pienaar: cinq points (John Pienaar 5 points)
James Landale: dix points (James Landale 10 points)
And ze winner wiz douze points es .... (dramatic pause) Laura Kuenssberg (are there we have folks.....)
At least RoBERT PesTON isn't IN the leadING GROUP OF CONtenders, and IS (AT best) aMONG the lagGARDs pack at seVEN per CENT or less. At LEAST I CAN ignore whatEVer he SAYS aBOUT FInance since he hasn't GOT a clue. When it COMES to polItics, HOWever, he does and I'd have to LISten.
ReplyDeleteHaving seen him interviewed about political biographies a year or so ago, I was tremendously impressed. When he's relaxed and knows his subject, and isn't being put on the spot to perform, he's entirely different from the gabbling, self-promoting twonk he is as business editor. I'd still like to see him charged by the FSA for his initiating the run on Northern Rock by blurting his scoop before a rescue could be discreetly organised by the Bank of England.
Nick Robinson is indeed superb. If you take one of his pronouncements and then stick a negative quantifer in front of it you end up with a statement of such infallibility as to impress Ratzinger himself.
ReplyDeleteI voted for gorgeous Laura, but then, I have a terrible crush on her. Of course, she is intelligent, erudite and able to assimilate adn convey complex issues simply and without being condescending. That, and I fancy her.
ReplyDeleteNick Robinson must go. He is so representative of the current BBC ethos, and therefore, an utter twat.
This post reminds me of the deeply missed English Rose Jenny Scott. Too nice perhaps.
ReplyDeleteI voted for Ms Kuenssberg. I've always been very impressed with the straightforward way she reports political news and - dare I say it - her impartiality. She doesn't seem to be in thrall to any particular politician. I was very pleased with the way she stood in for Robinson (in particular on his BBC blog) in the summer during his long holiday.
ReplyDeleteMy blog
Deliberately avoid BBC news so don't know who she is.
ReplyDeleteI prefer Tom Bradby on ITV.
Peter Hitchens!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, what chance getting a non-communist in the role. My breath is not held.
LK has been rubbish since she left the Daily Politics.
ReplyDeleteI think I have to agree with Desmond J and go with Reeta Chakrabarti.
"It's normal for BBC Political editors to retire after five years"
ReplyDeleteWell, Andy Marr did, but Oakley lasted 8 years (before being removed probably unwillingly) and Cole for 11 years and Simpson for the grand total of 1 year.
Maybe its 'normal' in the age of 24hour news, but only one of Robinsons predecessors fit the 5 year mould.
Does the same custom apply to Newsnight and might we be rid of sneery Paxo and Esler soonish?
ReplyDeleteRobinson would be good on Newsnight - even though he's left-leaning, he is more personable.
Anyone. Absolutely anyone.
ReplyDeleteFausty... LEFT LEANING!!! lol - I have heard it all
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see Nick Robinson leave his post, and the BBC. My view is shared by the 2387 strong Facebook group "Nick Robinson should not be the BBC's political editor". His bias against Gordon Brown and the last Labour government was insufferable.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who can enthuse about politics and make it interesting to a jaded public has to be excellent! Laura Kuenssberg does this ... she knows what she's talking about and gives every appearance of being interested in her subject. More importantly, she talks in clear English,with minimal 'tv presenter style speech or gesticulations' ...
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