Heather Stewart (born 28 September 1976) is an English journalist who is a special correspondent for The Guardian. She was formerly political editor of The Guardian, and before that economics editor of The Observer and before that, The Observer's business editor.

Heather Stewart
Born (1976-09-28) 28 September 1976 (age 48)
NationalityBritish
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford
OccupationJournalist
TitlePolitical editor of The Guardian (2016–2022)

Early life and career

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Stewart was born on 28 September 1976.[1] She was educated at a state school[2] and then studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at Magdalen College, Oxford, from 1995 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000, she undertook a BPhil in Philosophy at the same university. She joined HM Treasury in 2000 as a researcher.

Career

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In 2001, Stewart joined The Guardian as a junior reporter, later becoming business editor of The Observer, then its economics editor. She left the post of economics editor in December 2015. In January 2016, she became political editor of The Guardian[3] in a job-share with Anushka Asthana.[4]

Stewart presented a podcast, along with The Guardian's political correspondent Jessica Elgot, entitled The Guardian UK: Politics Weekly, in which she spoke to commentators and politicians.[5][6]

On 25 February 2022, Stewart announced she would be leaving the role of political editor to become The Guardian's special correspondent. In the role, she will report on the British government's levelling up policy, as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit.[7] She was replaced as political editor by Pippa Crerar.

References

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  1. ^ "Heather STEWART - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)". beta.companieshouse.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  2. ^ Stewart, Heather [@GuardianHeather] (8 October 2017). "I did go to Oxford, thanks to great (state school) teachers. First in my family. Gave me enough confidence not to be guilt-tripped about it" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 March 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Stewart, Heather (3 January 2016). "Nerds and bank lock-ins: things I'll miss about the numbers game". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  4. ^ Ponsford, Dominic (11 December 2015). "Guardian 'breaks the mould' by making Anushka Asthana and Heather Stewart political editor on job share". Press Gazette. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  5. ^ "The Guardian UK: Politics Weekly on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  6. ^ Crampton, Caroline (18 September 2018). "The Guardian is getting into the daily news podcast game — here's what it learned the last time it tried". Nieman Lab. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  7. ^ Stewart, Heather [@GuardianHeather] (25 February 2022). "Bit of personal news from me: after 6 mad, wonderful years as political editor, I'm breaking out of Westminster. I'll be the Guardian's new special correspondent - reporting on how the pandemic, and Brexit, are changing lives and livelihoods; and keeping an eye on "levelling up"" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 February 2022 – via Twitter.
Media offices
Preceded by Political Editor of The Guardian
2016–present
With: Anushka Asthana (2016–2018)
Incumbent