Insiders at the UK's biggest selling Sunday title say relations with Downing Street have broken down after a series of investigations focusing on the prime minister.
The Sunday Times newspaper backed Brexit four years ago and last summer it cautiously welcomed the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming prime minister, arguing “the United Kingdom could do with his sunny optimism” in a leader article highlighting the importance of his first hundred days in Downing Street.
The once symbiotic relationship between Johnson and the Sunday Times has “irretrievably broken down” after an investigation published by the paper that criticised the prime minister for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, according to interviews with multiple sources at Sunday Times and in government.
A senior Whitehall source argued that personal attacks on Johnson from sources in the piece showed political motivation rather than fair criticism. The Sunday Times will publish a further response to the government's rebuttal in this weekend’s paper, BuzzFeed News has learned. In January, Emma Tucker was named as the Sunday Times’ new editor, replacing Martin Ivens, who had published the Arcuri, Edwardes and Yellowhammer stories.
While Witherow remains determinedly print-focused, Tucker was highly engaged in the paper’s digital output and product development. The paper — associated with liberal metropolitan Americans — is one of the few commercial success stories in international print media, generating huge profits thanks to millions of paid subscribers as well as successful podcasts and events.
Under Harry Evans, who sat in the editor’s chair between 1967 and 1981, the paper became famous for its crusading investigations. These included exposing Kim Philby as a Soviet spy and highlighting the plight of children born with birth defects caused by the drug thalidomide, who never received compensation.
Any merger between the Times and Sunday Times — which multiple insiders think is the long-term direction of travel — will also increase pressure to have a common editorial line.
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