Laura Kuenssberg is in talks to step down as BBC political editor after six years and switch to presenting on the Today programme, it has been reported.
She could potentially be replaced by Jon Sopel, currently the corporation’s North America editor, who is returning to the UK.
The BBC says Mr Sopel’s role is being advertised internally and would not confirm Kuenssberg was switching roles.
The corporation’s first woman political editor has come in for vitriolic attacks on social media, with critics accusing her of bias, particularly those on the left who claim she is sympathetic to the Conservatives.
Her move would be part of a widescale reshuffle of senior reporters, a source told The Guardian.
A BBC spokesperson told The Independent: “The North America editor role is currently being advertised internally and the role will go through the normal recruitment process; it’s a bit soon to start speculating about the outcome of this, let alone other jobs which aren’t actually vacant.”
Mr Sopel, who was linked to the political editor job six years ago, is tipped to be replaced in Washington DC by Sarah Smith, the BBC Scotland editor and occasional Today presenter.
Ms Kuenssberg’s deal has yet to be signed off and there is no confirmed timeframe, The Guardian reported.
Next year, when the BBC celebrates its centenary, marks the beginning of the mid-term review of the corporation’s Royal Charter, following anger last year when aides to the prime minister allegedly said the government was planning to scrap the licence fee and replace it with a Netflix-style subscription model.
BBC political editors are often moved to senior presenting jobs well ahead of general elections, enabling their successors to settle into the role. Nick Robinson, her predecessor, is now one of Today’s five regular presenters.
