Sunday Times Political Editor Resigns

The Evening Standard Diary reports that Jonathan Oliver has handed in his notice as political editor of the Sunday Times and is following George Pascoe-Watson into the world of corporate PR. This is one of the most challenging and most coveted jobs in political journalism - challenging because you're expected to come up with a front page splash every week, and coveted because of its high profile and guaranteed access to those in power.

The Sunday Times will want to recruit weekly to ensure that a new person is in place in time for the party conference season. I'm hesitant to blight anyone's chances, but Isabel Oakshott, Oliver's deputy, ought to be in with a good shout. Other contenders could include Francis Elliott and Sam Coates from The Times, Tim Shipman, Deputy Pol Ed at the Mail (but a former Telegraph Sunday journalist) and Nick Watt, who enjoyed a very successful spell as the Observer's temporary Pol Ed when Gaby Hinsliff was on maternity leave.

There, I've ruined enough people's chances, so I'll stop there.