BBC’s Brian, the doyen of political pundits, to retire af ter 43 years
HE has been a fixture of TV news for decades, covering every major milestone in recent Scottish political history.
But now Brian Taylor is to retire from BBC Scotland after a 35-year career with the corporation – and 43 years spent as a journalist in total.
The broadcaster announced Mr Taylor, 65, who has held the post of political editor since 1991, will leave at the end of October.
Gary Smith, BBC Scotland head of news said: ‘As BBC Scotland political editor for nearly 30 years, Brian has become something of an institution, with his insights, analysis and colourful turn of phrase.
‘He is an honorary professor, an author, a lover of literature, theatre and golf, and – it has been rumoured – a bit of a fan of Dundee United. A 21st-century Renaissance man.
‘He will be a huge loss to us and I personally will miss his wisdom and wit.’
With Mr Taylor insisting he is ‘not stepping aside entirely’, Mr Smith added: ‘I’m sure we’ve not seen or heard the last of him on our airwaves.’
Mr Taylor joined the BBC in 1985 and, after a spell co-presenting the political show Left, Right and Centre, was appointed as political correspondent.
He worked in newspapers for eight years before joining the BBC, including a six-year spell as a lobby correspondent at Westminster.
Mr Taylor said: ‘It has been a pleasure, a privilege and, not infrequently, a source of innocent merriment to have worked as a broadcast journalist, covering politics – and particularly Scottish politics – for such a prolonged period.
‘At all times, I have tried to stand on the side of the people, our varied and valued BBC audiences. To find stuff out – and tell folk about it. Also, to analyse that stuff and explain why it matters, whether on telly, the wireless or online.’
He added: ‘As a journalist, starting first in newspapers, I’ve covered every Prime Minister since Callaghan and every First Minister since the reconvening of Scotland’s parliament. It has always been my endeavour to offer robust but fair coverage. It has been great working alongside such talented and thoughtful individuals, but nae man can tether time nor tide. Stepping back seems right.
‘But I’m not stepping aside entirely. I would hope to be able to play a role – albeit a different role – in helping chart Scotland’s future.’
Mr Taylor has been an honorary professor at the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and is an honorary professor at the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow. He has also written two books on politics and cowritten several others.
BBC Scotland said that it will begin the recruitment process to find his successor in the coming weeks.
One BBC source said: ‘Glenn Campbell and Douglas Fraser [BBC chief political correspondent and business editor respectively]– are clear frontrunners.’