Political editor bows out after two decades

BBC South's political editor has stepped down from the role he has held for more than two decades.

Peter Henley is retiring, having presented 746 editions of Sunday political programmes, covering six general elections, four European elections and dozens of local council contests.

The 61-year-old has interviewed eight prime ministers and a slew of opposition party leaders.

BBC South Senior News Editor Debby Moyse said: "His work has consistently carried the hallmarks of rigorous journalism, fairness, and impartiality."

Paying tribute on LinkedIn, former Labour cabinet minister John Denham said: "Always respected you for enabling politicians to make their own case."

Former Conservative Solicitor General Robert Courts expressed gratitude for the presenter's work "in the cause of free and fair journalism".

Peter Henley has presented 302 Politics Shows, 254 editions of Sunday Politics and 190 editions of Politics South.

His final Politics South show on Sunday highlighted his early involvement in national stories about bereavement leave and healthy eating.

One previous programme featured Berkshire mother Lucy Herd, whose campaign for bereavement leave following the death of her son Jack eventually led to legislation known as "Jack's Law".

A 2006 report on future Prime Minister Boris Johnson's criticism of Jamie Oliver's health eating campaign for children became a national news story.

Peter Henley joined the BBC in 2001 after stints as a reporter for Radio 210 in Reading and ITV in the south of England.

Ms Moyse said: "For nearly three decades, Peter's curiosity and his ability to drill down into policy and issues that affect all our lives have been central to BBC South's political coverage.

"We thank him for his outstanding contribution and commitment to serving our audiences on TV, Radio and Online."

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