The Guardian: Masthead finally lands its new political editor

The Guardian has concluded its long-running search for a political editor, promoting its chief political correspondent Tom McIlroy, who joined the outlet this year in the lead up to the federal election.

McIlroy’s appointment means the Australian outpost of the British newspaper will now begin a search for a new chief political correspondent.

It also shifts the focus for Guardian Australia after a period of tumult for its Canberra bureau. The political editor position had been vacant after changes to the bureau led to an exodus of its top talent and an internal HR investigation.

In late 2024, Canberra-based Guardian staff were interviewed as part of an HR investigation after political editor Karen Middleton made a complaint against the outlet’s chief political correspondent Paul