Politicking

Iain Dale, the political blogger who really tries to drive traffic, always seeks to be ahead of the curve. Like many, he reckons that BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson will move on after the General Election (I'm pretty certain to Today). So Mr Dale has alreay set up a poll for readers to vote on potential replacements. Here's his shortlist.

Tom Bradby ITN
Gary Gibbon Channel 4
Adam Boulton Sky News
Robert Peston BBC
Ben Wright BBC
James Landale BBC
Huw Edwards BBC
Andrew Porter Daily Telegraph
Rita Chakrabarti BBC
Martha Kearney BBC
Carole Walker BBC
Andy Bell Five News
Michael Crick BBC
Eddie Mair BBC
Joey Jones Sky News
Mark Mardell BBC
John Pienaar BBC
Laura Kuenssberg BBC
Jon Craig Sky News

Mr Dale's exercise is just a poll, but if we look at recent incumbents, we could shorten a betting list. Since John Cole, ex-Observer, BBC Political Editors have come in from "outside". Robin Oakley from The Times, Andrew Marr, The Indie as editor, then columnist for the Observer - even Nick Robinson had been away at ITN. And they all were already "editors", with presumably a special and existing level of access to top sources. Applying those principles, the list drops to..

Tom Bradby ITN
Gary Gibbon Channel 4
Adam Boulton Sky News
Andrew Porter Daily Telegraph
Andy Bell Five News

That's probably too short, because they'd have to consider Robert Peston if he wanted it (outside experience and top political sources). But it feels like we're missing others. Suggestions welcome..