Capitol effort, Sarah! BBC Scotland editor’s off to Washington DC
SARAH Smith, the BBC’s Scotland editor, has been appointed the corporation’s top Washington journalist.
She is taking over as North America editor from Jon Sopel, who announced his departure from the post last month after seven years.
Before becoming the BBC’s first Scotland editor in 2014, Edinburgh-born Miss Smith was based in the US working for Channel 4.
A regular host on BBC programmes including Today and Newsnight, she began her journalistic career as a trainee at BBC Scotland.
Her father was John Smith, who served as Labour leader from July 1992
‘Thrilled to be appointed’
until his death from a heart attack in May 1994.
Miss Smith said: ‘I am thrilled to be appointed as the BBC’s North America editor. This is a such a fascinating time in US politics and society.’
The 52-year-old – whose husband Simon Conway writes espionage novels and works for landmine clearance charity the Halo Trust – will take up her new post early in the new year.
Mr Sopel tweeted: ‘Delighted for you @BBCsarahsmith – you will have a ball.’
BBC News deputy director Jonathan Munro said: ‘Sarah is a world-class journalist who will bring huge experience to this important role.’ Miss Smith has been embroiled in several rows over her coverage of the SNP.
In May last year, she said on air that Nicola Sturgeon ‘enjoyed’ setting her own lockdown rules. In response, the First Minister said: ‘Never in my entire political career have I “enjoyed” anything less than this.’
Miss Smith said that she had ‘meant to say… she has “embraced’ the opportunity to make a policy unique to Scotland’. Earlier this year the BBC apologised after she wrongly claimed that Alex Salmond had called for Miss Sturgeon’s resignation.