We know Robert Peston has itchy feet. That was why so many people thought he might like to become editor of the Guardian last spring (when a vacancy occurred). We know he doesn’t like being told to cut his hair or put on a tie. We know that his whole history in journalism is shifting restlessly from one job to another. Our chief peripatetic correspondent. But political editor of ITV News, the current buzz tip?
The problem with ITV is that it lacks any political discussion opportunities. You can spend your working life doing gobbets of lobby reporting to camera with the career hope of being able to front News at Ten one day soon if you’re presentable (and have a haircut).
The problem with Peston is that, on his business, finance and political record, he’d soon get bored again. Of course TV economics editors can arrive from unexpected directions. Channel 4’s Paul Mason was a music teacher long before he played the Podemos concerto. But Peston has a lifetime of hard-won expertise to deploy (on Newsnight, not playing David Dimbleby). He’d be better using it.
