It was always going to be a difficuly position to fill, but Boriswatch has exclusive word that Matthew d’Ancona, deputy editor of the Sunday Telegraph. From the press release just moments ago:
“Andrew Neill, The Spectator’s chief executive, and Aidan Barclay, the chairman of the magazine’s owner Press Holdings, are believed to have chosen D’Ancona ahead of Scotland on Sunday editor Iain Martin and The Economist’s US editor John Micklethwait.
Neill described D’Ancona as one of Britain’s foremost political commentators, and said: “He combines the requisite political gravitas and insight with the wit and originality that the post requires.”
Congratulations, and good luck!