Laura Kuenssberg

Laura Kuenssberg – Life, Career, and Memorable Lines

Learn about Laura Kuenssberg — the British journalist born August 8, 1976 — her journey from Glasgow to becoming the BBC’s first female Political or, her style, controversies, and notable quotes that reflect her voice in political journalism.

Introduction

Laura Juliet Kuenssberg is one of the most prominent political journalists in the UK. Born on 8 August 1976, she broke new ground by becoming the first woman to serve as BBC’s Political or (2015–2022). Her journalism spans regional reporting, business news, national politics, and major events like Brexit and UK elections. Known for her direct interviewing style and high-visibility role, Kuenssberg remains a central figure in British media today.

Early Life and Family

Laura Kuenssberg was born in Rome, Italy, but was raised in Glasgow, Scotland. Nick Kuenssberg (a businessman/investor) and Sally Kuenssberg, brought intellectual and public service backgrounds to her upbringing.

Her family is notable in its public roles:

• Her paternal grandfather was Ekkehard von Kuenssberg, a physician and co-founder of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

• Her maternal grandfather was Lord Robertson, a judge in Scotland.

• Her sister, Joanna Kuenssberg, is a former diplomat (UK High Commissioner to Mozambique) and oil executive.

• She also has a brother, David Kuenssberg, who has held public service and governmental finance roles.

Kuenssberg attended Laurel Bank School, a girls’ independent school, in Glasgow.

Education

After her schooling in Glasgow, she went on to study History at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a first-class honours MA. Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she interned at NBC.

This combination of historical study and exposure to international media likely sharpened her understanding of political institutions, journalism, and public discourse.

Early Career in Journalism

Kuenssberg entered journalism with regional roles. She worked as Home Affairs Correspondent for BBC North East & Cumbria, where she won the Royal Television Society’s “Most Promising Newcomer” award in 2001.

She later moved toward political reporting and analysis:

• She became Chief Political Correspondent at BBC in 2009, contributing across BBC news outlets and programs.

• She then joined ITV News as its first Business or, a role combining financial journalism with political insight.

• In 2014, she returned to the BBC as Chief Correspondent and took on part of the Newsnight role.

Her visibility and reputation in political reporting grew considerably, earning her high-profile recognition and influence.

Rise as BBC Political or (2015–2022)

In July 2015, Kuenssberg succeeded Nick Robinson as the BBC’s Political or, becoming the first woman in that position.

During her time as Political or, she covered and framed many of the most consequential events in UK politics:

• The 2016 Brexit referendum and its fallout

• Multiple UK general elections

• Government responses to COVID-19

• Parliamentary and party leadership shifts

Her work involved breaking stories, interviewing prime ministers and party leaders, interpreting legislative dynamics, and guiding public understanding of complex political developments.

Her tenure was not without criticism. Some accused her of bias, particularly in her coverage of party politics, which she and the BBC consistently denied.

In December 2021, she announced that she would step down from the Political or role (effective Easter 2022), moving into a senior presenting and reporting position instead.

Role Since 2022 & Current Work

After stepping down, Kuenssberg took on a new role as host of the BBC’s Sunday morning political program, renamed Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, beginning in September 2022.

She also has worked on documentaries such as State of Chaos, which examines British politics post-Brexit.

In 2024, she was announced as a co-host (with Clive Myrie) for the BBC’s election-night coverage of the UK general election.

One notable recent incident: in October 2024, she canceled a planned interview with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson after accidentally sending him her briefing notes. Kuenssberg candidly referred to the event as “embarrassing.”

Personality, Style & Impact

• Direct interviewing and accountability: Kuenssberg is known for robust, sometimes pointed questioning of political figures, framing accountability as central to journalism.

• High visibility with scrutiny: Her prominence meant she was often a lightning rod—praised by some and critiqued by others for perceived bias or tone.

• Impartiality under pressure: Given her role at the BBC, she has repeatedly had to defend editorial choices and maintain balance under intense political scrutiny.

• Adaptability: She moved across reporting beats—regional, business, politics—and across media forms (broadcast, documentary, podcast) with authority.

• Resilience: She has faced online abuse and controversies but continued in high-pressure roles.

Her influence in British journalism is considerable: she broke glass ceilings at the BBC, became a standard-bearer (and often lightning rod) for political reporting, and helped frame public narratives during turbulent political times.

Notable Quotes

Here are several remarks attributed to Laura Kuenssberg that illustrate her perspective and approach:

• “I think politics often seems remote, and anything we can do to show more of the workings — how you make the sausage — is useful.”

• “Someone like Boris Johnson is reluctant to answer questions about ambition … then the story becomes all about his ambition.”

• “I work long hours. I work very, very hard.”

• “The BBC should mirror the country.”

• “Andrea Leadsom promises to publish her tax return tomorrow if she gets on the ballot — it’s boring.”

These quotes show her striving to demystify politics, emphasize rigor and persistence, and foreground transparency in public life.

Lessons from Laura Kuenssberg’s Journey

1. Pioneering paths matter
   Her becoming the first female Political or at BBC showed that institutional barriers could be challenged and changed.

2. Adapt and diversify
   Shifting from regional reporting to business, politics, and long-form documentaries demonstrates flexibility is valuable in journalism.

3. Transparency and accountability in media
   She often underscores that the public deserves to see how decisions are made and holds power to account.

4. Resist intimidation
   In a profession where public scrutiny is intense, Kuenssberg’s persistence despite criticism and online abuse is a model of resilience.

5. Continuous relevance through reinvention
   Rather than remaining fixed in one role, she evolved—stepping down from Political or to take on new presenting roles, maintaining influence by shifting with media and audience needs.

Conclusion

Laura Kuenssberg’s career is a compelling story of journalistic ambition, boundary-breaking, and navigating the high-stakes world of political reporting in Britain. From Glasgow to the halls of Westminster, she has blended tenacity, adaptability, and a clear voice in the public sphere. Her tenure has shaped how many Britons perceive political news, and her continuing presence in journalism ensures she remains a central figure in media discourse.