Difference between revisions of "Laura Kuenssberg"

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{{person
 
{{person
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|WP=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Kuenssberg
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|constitutes=TV journalist
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| constitutes = TV journalist
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|twitter=https://twitter.com/bbclaurak
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| name       = Laura Kuenssberg
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|name=Laura Kuenssberg
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| image       = Laura_Kuenssberg.jpg
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|image=BBC_Laura_K.jpg
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| image_caption = Kuenssberg hosting the Labour leadership debate on 17 June 2015
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|birth_name=Laura Juliet Kuenssberg
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| birth_name  = Laura Juliet Kuenssberg
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|residence=London, UK
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| birth_date = 1976
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|birth_date=1976
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| birth_place = [[Italy]]
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|birth_place=Italy
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| death_date =  
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|death_date=
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| death_place =  
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|death_place=
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| alma_mater = University of Edinburgh, Georgetown University
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|alma_mater=University of Edinburgh, Georgetown University
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| employment ={{job
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|wikipedia=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Kuenssberg
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| title       =BBC Political Editor
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|nationality=British
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| start       =22 July 2015
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|spouses=James Kelly
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| end         =
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|employment={{job
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}}
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|title=BBC Political Editor
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|start=22 July 2015
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|end=2022
 
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}}
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'''Laura Kuenssberg''' (born&nbsp;1976) is a Scottish TV journalist who hosted the televised [[Labour Party]] leadership debate on 17 June 2015.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/22/labour-leadership-hustings-newsnight-bbc "Labour leadership hustings to be shown live on BBC's Newsnight"]</ref> She was appointed Political Editor of [[BBC News]] on 22 July 2015, the first woman to hold the position.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33628087|title=BBC names Laura Kuenssberg as BBC political editor|publisher=BBC News|date=22 July 2015|accessdate=22 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Plunkett|first=John|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/22/laura-kuenssberg-confirmed-as-new-bbc-political-editor|title=Laura Kuenssberg confirmed as the BBC's first female political editor|work=The Guardian|date=22 July 2015|accessdate=23 July 2015}}</ref>
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}}
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'''Laura Kuenssberg''' is a Scottish TV journalist who was appointed Political Editor of [[BBC News]] on 22 July 2015, the first woman to hold the position.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33628087 "BBC names Laura Kuenssberg as BBC political editor"]''</ref><ref>''[http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/22/laura-kuenssberg-confirmed-as-new-bbc-political-editor "Laura Kuenssberg confirmed as the BBC's first female political editor"]''</ref>
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In January 2016, in a veiled reference to Laura Kuenssberg, the former Political Editor [[Nick Robinson]] wrote to colleagues warning them against anti-[[Jeremy Corbyn|Corbyn]] bias in the BBC's political coverage.<ref>''[http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/laura-kuenssberg-gets-corbynistas-in-a-spin-over-reshuffle-scoop/ "Laura Kuenssberg gets Corbynistas in a spin over reshuffle scoop"]''</ref>
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The same month, Kuenssberg was involved in arranging for the Labour MP [https://twitter.com/SDoughtyMP Stephen Doughty] to publicly announce his resignation as a Shadow Foreign Office Minister on the [[BBC]]'s ''Daily Politics'' programme. The incident was the subject of an official complaint from [[Seumas Milne]], the [[Labour Party]]'s director of communications, which was rejected by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbie_Gibb Robbie Gibb,] then the BBC's head of live political programmes.<ref>''[https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jan/08/bbc-justifies-decision-to-allow-stephen-doughty-to-resign-live-on-daily-politics "BBC justifies decision to allow Stephen Doughty to resign live on Daily Politics"]''</ref>
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By May 2017, a [https://www.change.org/p/the-bbc-the-immediate-sacking-of-laura-kuenssberg-from-the-bbc Change.org] petition calling for the immediate sacking of Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC had attracted over 21,000 signatories.<ref>''[https://www.change.org/p/the-bbc-the-immediate-sacking-of-laura-kuenssberg-from-the-bbc "The immediate sacking of Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC"]''</ref>
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On 17 December 2019, Kuenssberg presented the [[BBC]] documentary "The Brexit Storm Continues: Laura Kuenssberg's Inside Story", which covered [[Boris Johnson]]'s arrival at 10 Downing Street through to the [[UK/2019 General Election]].<ref>''[https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/the-brexit-storm-continues-laura-kuenssberg-inside-story-a4315626.html "The Brexit Storm Continues: Revelations are few in Laura Kuenssberg's Inside Story"]''</ref>
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She left her role at the [[BBC]] in late 2021.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/22/role-of-bbc-political-editor-highlighted-by-expected-exit-of-laura-kuenssberg</ref> She then moved to present ''Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg'' on BBC 1 replacing [[Andrew Marr]].<ref>https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bv01</ref>
  
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On social media Laura Kuenssberg has been accused of conducting a series of politically-biased attacks on Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]].<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/bringbacknewstotheBBC/posts/1649257541993111 "Bring back news to the BBC"]</ref> [[The Ecologist#Kuenssberg_and_Corbyn|Kuenssberg's extended interview with Corbyn]] on 16 November 2015 (three days after the [[Mass murder in Paris|terrorist attacks in Paris]]) is regarded as initiating her campaign.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34832023 "Jeremy Corbyn 'not happy' with shoot-to-kill policy"]</ref>
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==Breaking Electoral Law==
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{{YouTubeVideo
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|caption=[https://twitter.com/lazaroumterror/status/1204777428763078657 #SackKuenssberg #PostalVoteGate]
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On 11 December 2019, the eve of the [[UK/2019 General Election]], Laura Kuenssberg appeared to have broken Electoral Law by revealing on the [[BBC]]'s ''Politics Live'' programme confidential information about how Postal Voters had cast their vote prior to 10pm on polling day:
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:"The postal votes, of course, have already arrived. The parties – they’re not meant to look at it – but they do kind of get a hint. And on both sides people are telling me that the postal votes that are in are looking pretty grim for Labour in a lot of parts of the country.”
  
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On 10 May 2016, an online petition with over 35,000 signatures calling for Laura Kuenssberg to be sacked from her role as BBC Political Editor was scrapped by ''38 Degrees'', reported by ''[[The Guardian]]'' as saying it had become a focal point for misogynist abuse.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/may/10/laura-kuenssberg-petition-sexist-abuse-38-degrees-bbc "Laura Kuenssberg petition taken down over sexist abuse"]</ref> At PMQs on 11 May 2016 [[David Cameron]] denounced the petition as "sexist".<ref>[http://www.itv.com/news/2016-05-11/david-cameron-condemns-sexist-petition-against-bbc-journalist-laura-kuenssberg/ "David Cameron condemns 'sexist' petition against BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg"]</ref> When [[Craig Murray]], one of the signatories, asked for evidence of this sexism he was refused. Murray said:
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Responding to Kuenssberg’s apparent unlawful admission, [[LBC]] Producer, [https://twitter.com/AvaSantina Ava-Santina] tweeted:
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:"Laura Kuenssberg is I think the most openly biased journalist I have ever seen on the BBC, particularly in her very obvious vindictive hatred of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and of Scottish Independence. Nobody seriously believes the BBC actually would remove her even if the petition reached a million. The continued process of stigmatisation of decent dissidents as '[[antisemitic]]' or 'misogynist' is characteristic of a society in which deviating from the political line is rewarded with social stigma and exclusion."<ref>[https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/05/establishment-rallies-around-keunssberg/ "The Establishment Rallies Around Kuenssberg"]</ref>
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:“The reason broadcasters are not allowed to reveal postal votes before 10pm polling day is it influences the vote. I really have no explanation of how this is allowed under broadcasting code.”<ref>''[https://twitter.com/AvaSantina/status/1204767705036922881 "The reason broadcasters are not allowed to reveal postal votes before 10pm polling day is it influences the vote"]''</ref>
  
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==Early life==
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''[[Evolve Politics]]'' website contacted both the [[BBC]] and the [[Electoral Commission]] for comment. The latter advised ''Evolve Politics'' to report the incident to the police, which they did.<ref>''[https://evolvepolitics.com/bbcs-laura-kuenssberg-accused-of-breaking-electoral-law-after-revealing-confidential-postal-vote-information/ "BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg Accused of Breaking Electoral Law after Revealing Confidential Postal Vote Information"]''</ref>
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The daughter of Scottish businessman Nick Kuenssberg, OBE,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/k/7239/Nicholas%20%28Nick%29+KUENSSBERG.aspx|title=Nick Kuenssberg|publisher=Debretts|accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref> and his wife Sally Kuenssberg, CBE,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584140.stm|title=Sally Kuenssberg, CBE|publisher=BBC Scotland|date=1999-12-31|accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref> her paternal grandfather was German-born Dr Ekkehard von Kuenssberg, a founder and president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her maternal grandfather was Lord Robertson, a High Court of Justiciary judge. Her great-uncle was Sir James Robertson, the last colonial Governor-General of Nigeria.
 
  
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Laura Kuenssberg was born in [[Italy]], while her father was assigned there by Coats Viyella.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caplus.co.uk/profiles/kuenssberg_nick.asp|title=Nick Kuenssberg|publisher=caplus.co.uk|accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref> She grew up in Glasgow, with her brother and sister,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/mfwhoswho/individuals/K_mfwwi/nicholas_kuenssberg.html|title=Nick Kuenssberg|publisher=Frost's Scottish Who's Who|accessdate=2010-05-20}}</ref> and attended Laurel Bank School, an independent girls' school.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rushton|first1=Katherine|last2=Robinson|first2=Martin|title=Newsnight star is first lady of BBC politics: Laura Kuenssberg becomes corporation's new political editor|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3171409/Newsnight-star-lady-BBC-politics-Laura-Kuenssberg-corporations-new-political-editor.html|work=Daily Mail|date=22 July 2015}}</ref>
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==Exclusive Cox interview==
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On 21 June 2016, Laura Kuenssberg scooped an exclusive TV interview with [[Brendan Cox]], only edited extracts of which were broadcast by the [[BBC]].<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-36592122 "Brendan Cox says politics was behind Jo's death"]''</ref>
  
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Kuenssberg studied history at the [[University of Edinburgh]], followed by a journalism course at [[Georgetown University]] in Washington D.C., where she worked on an [[NBC News]] political programme.
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''Politics Home'' published selected "quotes from Brendan Cox's interview with BBC News about his late wife, [[Jo Cox]]."<ref>''[https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/politics/news/76425/transcript-brendan-cox-interview-bbc-news "Transcript: Brendan Cox interview with BBC News"]''</ref>
  
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How soon after the [[EU Referendum]] vote on 23 June 2016, the full interview - including Kuenssberg's inevitable sniping against the Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] - will be broadcast, remains to be seen. 
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==Biased against Corbyn==
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[[File:Laura_Kuenssberg.jpg|320px|right|thumb|Hosting the 2015 [[Labour Party|Labour]] leadership debate<ref>''[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/may/22/labour-leadership-hustings-newsnight-bbc "Labour leadership hustings to be shown live on BBC's Newsnight"]''</ref>]]
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On social media Laura Kuenssberg has been accused of conducting a series of politically-biased attacks on Labour leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]].<ref>''[https://www.facebook.com/bringbacknewstotheBBC/posts/1649257541993111 "Bring back news to the BBC"]''</ref> [[The Ecologist#Kuenssberg_and_Corbyn|Kuenssberg's extended interview with Corbyn]] on 16 November 2015 (three days after the [[2015-11 Paris attacks|terrorist attacks in Paris]]) is regarded as initiating her campaign.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34832023 "Jeremy Corbyn 'not happy' with shoot-to-kill policy"]''</ref>
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On 10 May 2016, an online petition with 33,375 signatures calling for Laura Kuenssberg to be sacked from her role as BBC Political Editor was scrapped by ''38 Degrees'', reported by ''[[The Guardian]]'' as saying it had become a focal point for misogynist abuse.<ref>''[http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/may/10/laura-kuenssberg-petition-sexist-abuse-38-degrees-bbc "Laura Kuenssberg petition taken down over sexist abuse"]''</ref> At PMQs on 11 May 2016 [[David Cameron]] denounced the petition as "sexist".<ref>''[http://www.itv.com/news/2016-05-11/david-cameron-condemns-sexist-petition-against-bbc-journalist-laura-kuenssberg/ "David Cameron condemns 'sexist' petition against BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg"]''</ref> When [[Craig Murray]], one of the signatories, asked for evidence of this sexism he was refused.<ref>''[https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/05/38-degrees-refuse-release-evidence-sexist-abuse-laura-kuenssberg/ "38 Degrees Refuse to Release Evidence of 'Sexist Abuse' of Laura Kuenssberg"]''</ref> Murray said:
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:"Laura Kuenssberg is I think the most openly biased journalist I have ever seen on the BBC, particularly in her very obvious vindictive hatred of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] and of Scottish Independence. Nobody seriously believes the BBC actually would remove her even if the petition reached a million. The continued process of stigmatisation of decent dissidents as '[[antisemitic]]' or 'misogynist' is characteristic of a society in which deviating from the political line is rewarded with social stigma and exclusion."<ref>''[https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2016/05/establishment-rallies-around-keunssberg/ "The Establishment Rallies Around Kuenssberg"]''</ref>
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On 11 May 2016, a petition demanding that ''38 Degrees'' "cite the 'sexist abuse' evidence for scrapping our Laura Kuenssberg petition", and "convey full details individually to each signatory", gained over 500 signatures within 24 hours.<ref>''[https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/cite-the-sexist-abuse-evidence-for-scrapping-our-laura-kuenssberg-petition "Cite the 'sexist abuse' evidence for scrapping our Laura Kuenssberg petition"]''</ref>
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On 2 June 2016, Laura Kuenssberg was booed and hissed as she prepared to question Jeremy Corbyn after he had made a speech on the [[EU Referendum]].<ref>''[http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/02/jeremy-corbyn-supporters-boo-bbcs-laura-kuenssberg "Corbyn supporters boo BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg"]''</ref>
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==Background==
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The daughter of Scottish businessman [[Nick Kuenssberg]], OBE,<ref>''[http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/k/7239/Nicholas%20%28Nick%29+KUENSSBERG.aspx "Nick Kuenssberg"]''</ref> and his wife Sally Kuenssberg, CBE,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584140.stm "Sally Kuenssberg, CBE"]''</ref> her paternal grandfather was German-born Dr Ekkehard von Kuenssberg, a founder and president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her maternal grandfather was Lord Robertson, a High Court of Justiciary judge. Her great-uncle was Sir James Robertson, the last colonial Governor-General of [[Nigeria]].
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Laura Kuenssberg was born in [[Italy]], while her father was assigned there by Coats Viyella.<ref>''[http://www.caplus.co.uk/profiles/kuenssberg_nick.asp "Nick Kuenssberg"]''</ref> She grew up in Glasgow, with her brother and sister,<ref>''[http://www.martinfrost.ws/htmlfiles/mfwhoswho/individuals/K_mfwwi/nicholas_kuenssberg.html "Nick Kuenssberg Frost's Scottish Who's Who"]''</ref> and attended Laurel Bank School, an independent girls' school.<ref>''[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3171409/Newsnight-star-lady-BBC-politics-Laura-Kuenssberg-corporations-new-political-editor.html "Newsnight star is first lady of BBC politics: Laura Kuenssberg becomes corporation's new political editor"]''</ref>
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Kuenssberg's sister Joanna is reported to be working for the [[Conservative Party]] as High Commissioner to [[Mozambique]] having formerly served at the British Embassy in [[Lisbon]], while her brother reportedly works for the Conservative Party as a civil servant in the [[Department of Communities and Local Government]].<ref>''[http://www.prole-star.co.uk/single-post/2017/03/08/Bullingdon-Broadcasting-Corporation-Through-The-Keyhole "Bullingdon Broadcasting Corporation: Through The Keyhole"]''</ref>
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===Education===
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Kuenssberg studied history at the [[University of Edinburgh]], followed by a journalism course at [[Georgetown University]] in Washington D.C., where she worked on an [[NBC]] News political programme.
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==Career==
 
==Career==
 
After returning to UK, she worked for local radio and then cable television in Glasgow, before joining BBC North East and Cumbria in March 2000. Kuenssberg won a regional Royal Television Society award for her work as home affairs correspondent, and produced segments for the social affairs editor Niall Dickson. Kuenssberg reported for ''[[Channel 4 News]]'' prior to moving to the [[BBC]].
 
After returning to UK, she worked for local radio and then cable television in Glasgow, before joining BBC North East and Cumbria in March 2000. Kuenssberg won a regional Royal Television Society award for her work as home affairs correspondent, and produced segments for the social affairs editor Niall Dickson. Kuenssberg reported for ''[[Channel 4 News]]'' prior to moving to the [[BBC]].
  
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Appointed chief political correspondent for [[BBC News]], Kuenssberg reported for ''BBC One'' bulletins, ''The Daily Politics'' and the ''BBC News Channel''. In May 2010, her presence was so ubiquitous in the period between the general election and the formation of a coalition government under [[David Cameron]] that journalist [[David Aaronovitch]] coined the term "Kuenssbergovision."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/david_aaronovitch/article7124535.ece|title=New Politics is here. Now let’s have new votes|publisher=The Times|date=2010-05-13|accessdate=2010-05-20 | location=London | first=David | last=Aaronovitch}}</ref>
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Appointed chief political correspondent for [[BBC News]], Kuenssberg reported for ''BBC One'' bulletins, ''The Daily Politics'' and the ''BBC News Channel''. In May 2010, her presence was so ubiquitous in the period between the general election and the formation of a coalition government under [[David Cameron]] that journalist [[David Aaronovitch]] coined the term "Kuenssbergovision."<ref>''[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/david_aaronovitch/article7124535.ece "New Politics is here. Now let’s have new votes"]''</ref>
  
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In September 2011 Kuenssberg took up the newly created role of business editor for [[ITV News]] and contributed towards business reporting on [[ITV]]'s current affairs strand, ''Tonight''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://corporate.itn.co.uk/about-itn/media-centre/press-release/Laura_Kuenssberg.aspx|title=ITV announces Laura Kuenssberg as Business Editor|publisher=ITN.co.uk|date=2011-06-22|accessdate=2011-06-22 | location=London}}</ref> On 27 August 2013 she made her debut co-newscasting ''ITV News at Ten'' alongside [[Alastair Stewart]].
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In September 2011 Kuenssberg took up the newly created role of business editor for [[ITV News]] and contributed towards business reporting on [[ITV]]'s current affairs strand, ''Tonight''.<ref>''[http://corporate.itn.co.uk/about-itn/media-centre/press-release/Laura_Kuenssberg.aspx "ITV announces Laura Kuenssberg as Business Editor"]''</ref> On 27 August 2013 she made her debut co-newscasting ''ITV News at Ten'' alongside [[Alastair Stewart]].
  
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On 12 November 2013 it was announced that she would leave ITV to return to the BBC as chief correspondent and a presenter of ''Newsnight'', replacing [[Gavin Esler]] in the latter role. She joined the ''Newsnight'' team in February 2014.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8354077.stm "Is Labour facing Glasgow upset?"] BBC News, 11 November 2009</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/nov/12/bbc-newsnight-itv-laura-kuenssberg|title=BBC Newsnight recruits ITV's Laura Kuenssberg |publisher=The Guardian|date=2013-11-13|accessdate=2013-11-12  | first=John| last=Plunkett}}</ref>
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On 12 November 2013 it was announced that she would leave ITV to return to the BBC as chief correspondent and a presenter of ''Newsnight'', replacing [[Gavin Esler]] in the latter role. She joined the ''Newsnight'' team in February 2014.<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8354077.stm "Is Labour facing Glasgow upset?"]''</ref><ref>''[http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/nov/12/bbc-newsnight-itv-laura-kuenssberg "BBC Newsnight recruits ITV's Laura Kuenssberg"]''</ref>
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In July 2015 she was appointed the BBC's political editor, the first woman to hold the position.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/laura-kuenssberg-political-editor|title=Laura Kuenssberg has been appointed the BBC’s new Political Editor|publisher=BBC|website=BBC Media Centre|accessdate=24 July 2015}}</ref>
 
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==Personal life==
 
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Laura Kuenssberg is married and lives in east London.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3HQFRMs1Jq7N958g9ZhqRmx/laura-kuenssberg|title=Laura Kuenssberg|publisher=BBC|accessdate=2 July 2014}}</ref>
 
  
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In July 2015 she was appointed the BBC's political editor, the first woman to hold the position.<ref>''[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2015/laura-kuenssberg-political-editor "Laura Kuenssberg has been appointed the BBC’s new Political Editor"]''</ref>
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{{SMWDocs}}
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{Reflist|2}}
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==Further reading==
 
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*{{cite news | last = McBeth | first = Jim | title = Tell Laura we love her | url = http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-227647454.html | archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/5xWzukw3E | accessdate = 29 July 2010 | archivedate = 2011-03-28 | newspaper = Daily Mail | date=29 May 2010}}
 
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==External links==
 
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*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk25/presenters/laura-kuenssberg Laura Kuenssberg on BBC Online]
 
  
 
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Latest revision as of 19:55, 12 May 2024

Person.png Laura Kuenssberg   TwitterRdf-entity.pngRdf-icon.png
(TV journalist)
BBC Laura K.jpg
BornLaura Juliet Kuenssberg
1976
Italy
ResidenceLondon,  UK
NationalityBritish
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh, Georgetown University
SpouseJames Kelly

Employment.png BBC Political Editor

In office
22 July 2015 - 2022
Succeeded byChris Mason

Laura Kuenssberg is a Scottish TV journalist who was appointed Political Editor of BBC News on 22 July 2015, the first woman to hold the position.[1][2]

In January 2016, in a veiled reference to Laura Kuenssberg, the former Political Editor Nick Robinson wrote to colleagues warning them against anti-Corbyn bias in the BBC's political coverage.[3]

The same month, Kuenssberg was involved in arranging for the Labour MP Stephen Doughty to publicly announce his resignation as a Shadow Foreign Office Minister on the BBC's Daily Politics programme. The incident was the subject of an official complaint from Seumas Milne, the Labour Party's director of communications, which was rejected by Robbie Gibb, then the BBC's head of live political programmes.[4]

By May 2017, a Change.org petition calling for the immediate sacking of Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC had attracted over 21,000 signatories.[5]

On 17 December 2019, Kuenssberg presented the BBC documentary "The Brexit Storm Continues: Laura Kuenssberg's Inside Story", which covered Boris Johnson's arrival at 10 Downing Street through to the UK/2019 General Election.[6]

She left her role at the BBC in late 2021.[7] She then moved to present Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on BBC 1 replacing Andrew Marr.[8]

Breaking Electoral Law

#SackKuenssberg #PostalVoteGate

On 11 December 2019, the eve of the UK/2019 General Election, Laura Kuenssberg appeared to have broken Electoral Law by revealing on the BBC's Politics Live programme confidential information about how Postal Voters had cast their vote prior to 10pm on polling day:

"The postal votes, of course, have already arrived. The parties – they’re not meant to look at it – but they do kind of get a hint. And on both sides people are telling me that the postal votes that are in are looking pretty grim for Labour in a lot of parts of the country.”

Responding to Kuenssberg’s apparent unlawful admission, LBC Producer, Ava-Santina tweeted:

“The reason broadcasters are not allowed to reveal postal votes before 10pm polling day is it influences the vote. I really have no explanation of how this is allowed under broadcasting code.”[9]

Evolve Politics website contacted both the BBC and the Electoral Commission for comment. The latter advised Evolve Politics to report the incident to the police, which they did.[10]

Exclusive Cox interview

On 21 June 2016, Laura Kuenssberg scooped an exclusive TV interview with Brendan Cox, only edited extracts of which were broadcast by the BBC.[11]

Politics Home published selected "quotes from Brendan Cox's interview with BBC News about his late wife, Jo Cox."[12]

How soon after the EU Referendum vote on 23 June 2016, the full interview - including Kuenssberg's inevitable sniping against the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - will be broadcast, remains to be seen.

Biased against Corbyn

Hosting the 2015 Labour leadership debate[13]

On social media Laura Kuenssberg has been accused of conducting a series of politically-biased attacks on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.[14] Kuenssberg's extended interview with Corbyn on 16 November 2015 (three days after the terrorist attacks in Paris) is regarded as initiating her campaign.[15]

On 10 May 2016, an online petition with 33,375 signatures calling for Laura Kuenssberg to be sacked from her role as BBC Political Editor was scrapped by 38 Degrees, reported by The Guardian as saying it had become a focal point for misogynist abuse.[16] At PMQs on 11 May 2016 David Cameron denounced the petition as "sexist".[17] When Craig Murray, one of the signatories, asked for evidence of this sexism he was refused.[18] Murray said:

"Laura Kuenssberg is I think the most openly biased journalist I have ever seen on the BBC, particularly in her very obvious vindictive hatred of Jeremy Corbyn and of Scottish Independence. Nobody seriously believes the BBC actually would remove her even if the petition reached a million. The continued process of stigmatisation of decent dissidents as 'antisemitic' or 'misogynist' is characteristic of a society in which deviating from the political line is rewarded with social stigma and exclusion."[19]

On 11 May 2016, a petition demanding that 38 Degrees "cite the 'sexist abuse' evidence for scrapping our Laura Kuenssberg petition", and "convey full details individually to each signatory", gained over 500 signatures within 24 hours.[20]

On 2 June 2016, Laura Kuenssberg was booed and hissed as she prepared to question Jeremy Corbyn after he had made a speech on the EU Referendum.[21]

Background

The daughter of Scottish businessman Nick Kuenssberg, OBE,[22] and his wife Sally Kuenssberg, CBE,[23] her paternal grandfather was German-born Dr Ekkehard von Kuenssberg, a founder and president of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Her maternal grandfather was Lord Robertson, a High Court of Justiciary judge. Her great-uncle was Sir James Robertson, the last colonial Governor-General of Nigeria.

Laura Kuenssberg was born in Italy, while her father was assigned there by Coats Viyella.[24] She grew up in Glasgow, with her brother and sister,[25] and attended Laurel Bank School, an independent girls' school.[26]

Kuenssberg's sister Joanna is reported to be working for the Conservative Party as High Commissioner to Mozambique having formerly served at the British Embassy in Lisbon, while her brother reportedly works for the Conservative Party as a civil servant in the Department of Communities and Local Government.[27]

Education

Kuenssberg studied history at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a journalism course at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., where she worked on an NBC News political programme.

Career

After returning to UK, she worked for local radio and then cable television in Glasgow, before joining BBC North East and Cumbria in March 2000. Kuenssberg won a regional Royal Television Society award for her work as home affairs correspondent, and produced segments for the social affairs editor Niall Dickson. Kuenssberg reported for Channel 4 News prior to moving to the BBC.

Appointed chief political correspondent for BBC News, Kuenssberg reported for BBC One bulletins, The Daily Politics and the BBC News Channel. In May 2010, her presence was so ubiquitous in the period between the general election and the formation of a coalition government under David Cameron that journalist David Aaronovitch coined the term "Kuenssbergovision."[28]

In September 2011 Kuenssberg took up the newly created role of business editor for ITV News and contributed towards business reporting on ITV's current affairs strand, Tonight.[29] On 27 August 2013 she made her debut co-newscasting ITV News at Ten alongside Alastair Stewart.

On 12 November 2013 it was announced that she would leave ITV to return to the BBC as chief correspondent and a presenter of Newsnight, replacing Gavin Esler in the latter role. She joined the Newsnight team in February 2014.[30][31]

In July 2015 she was appointed the BBC's political editor, the first woman to hold the position.[32]

 

A Document by Laura Kuenssberg

TitleDocument typePublication dateSubject(s)Description
Document:What could go wrong for Keir Starmer? A lot actually, Laura Kuenssberg writesArticle11 May 2024Keir Starmer
Natalie Elphicke
Labour Party
2023-2024 Israel-Hamas War/October 7		Following the May 2024 local elections Keir Starmer looks highly likely to be the next Prime Minister, but his future it is in doubt.

 

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References

  1. ↑ "BBC names Laura Kuenssberg as BBC political editor"
  2. ↑ "Laura Kuenssberg confirmed as the BBC's first female political editor"
  3. ↑ "Laura Kuenssberg gets Corbynistas in a spin over reshuffle scoop"
  4. ↑ "BBC justifies decision to allow Stephen Doughty to resign live on Daily Politics"
  5. ↑ "The immediate sacking of Laura Kuenssberg from the BBC"
  6. ↑ "The Brexit Storm Continues: Revelations are few in Laura Kuenssberg's Inside Story"
  7. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/oct/22/role-of-bbc-political-editor-highlighted-by-expected-exit-of-laura-kuenssberg
  8. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001bv01
  9. ↑ "The reason broadcasters are not allowed to reveal postal votes before 10pm polling day is it influences the vote"
  10. ↑ "BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg Accused of Breaking Electoral Law after Revealing Confidential Postal Vote Information"
  11. ↑ "Brendan Cox says politics was behind Jo's death"
  12. ↑ "Transcript: Brendan Cox interview with BBC News"
  13. ↑ "Labour leadership hustings to be shown live on BBC's Newsnight"
  14. ↑ "Bring back news to the BBC"
  15. ↑ "Jeremy Corbyn 'not happy' with shoot-to-kill policy"
  16. ↑ "Laura Kuenssberg petition taken down over sexist abuse"
  17. ↑ "David Cameron condemns 'sexist' petition against BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg"
  18. ↑ "38 Degrees Refuse to Release Evidence of 'Sexist Abuse' of Laura Kuenssberg"
  19. ↑ "The Establishment Rallies Around Kuenssberg"
  20. ↑ "Cite the 'sexist abuse' evidence for scrapping our Laura Kuenssberg petition"
  21. ↑ "Corbyn supporters boo BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg"
  22. ↑ "Nick Kuenssberg"
  23. ↑ "Sally Kuenssberg, CBE"
  24. ↑ "Nick Kuenssberg"
  25. ↑ "Nick Kuenssberg Frost's Scottish Who's Who"
  26. ↑ "Newsnight star is first lady of BBC politics: Laura Kuenssberg becomes corporation's new political editor"
  27. ↑ "Bullingdon Broadcasting Corporation: Through The Keyhole"
  28. ↑ "New Politics is here. Now let’s have new votes"
  29. ↑ "ITV announces Laura Kuenssberg as Business Editor"
  30. ↑ "Is Labour facing Glasgow upset?"
  31. ↑ "BBC Newsnight recruits ITV's Laura Kuenssberg"
  32. ↑ "Laura Kuenssberg has been appointed the BBC’s new Political Editor"
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