LAURA Kuenssberg is in talks to step down as the BBC’s political editor, according to reports.
The deal is not yet signed off, but would potentially see her move to present the Today programme on Radio 4, according to The Guardian.
Such a move would see the Radio 4 show have six hosts.
BBC Scotland editor Sarah Smith is also reportedly tipped to leave for Washington DC, filling a North America editor post made vacant by Jon Sopel.
Smith, the daughter of former Labour leader John Smith, was made the BBC's first Scotland editor in November 2015.
The departures would leave gaps at the top of the BBC’s political team.
Other positions in the corporation have been filled with Tory supporters under Boris Johnson’s government.
Conservative donor Richard Sharp has been made the corporation’s chair, former Downing Street director of communications Robbie Gibb has been put on its board, and former Tory party council candidate Tim Davie has been made its director-general.
Kuenssberg was made political editor at the BBC in July 2015, and has faced multiple allegations of bias during her tenure.
The journalist’s move would reportedly come as part of a major reshuffle. Sopel, who is leaving the US for the UK, may see himself take Kuenssberg's current job.
A BBC spokesperson told The Guardian: “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.”
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