The verdict seemed unanimous when half the cabinet and most of the Westminster lobby gathered last week to mark Jo Coburn’s departure from the BBC: The well-liked Daily Politics presenter is a huge loss to the national broadcaster.
One wonders whether those assembled would say the same of her predecessor, who made his presence at the shindig well known. Andrew Neil graced the party with what he clearly felt were hilarious remarks, including likening Coburn’s early presenting outfits to those worn by a German barmaid, before “praising” the BBC’s decision to pair him up with a relatively inexperienced new presenter as a “glowing example” of the Beeb’s “radical approach to feminism”.
Neil’s remarks then descended into a robust critique of the BBC’s performance after his departure, which Coburn was sure to appreciate. What director-general Tim Davie, who was also in the audience, made of the whole thing is for anyone to guess.
