John Cole
Encyclopedia
John Cole is a British
journalist and broadcaster. He was the BBC's Political Editor
from 1981 to 1992.
John Cole was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy
and (externally) at the University of London
. During his career as a print journalist, he worked at the Belfast Telegraph, The Guardian
and The Observer
, rising to become the deputy editor of in turn The Guardian and The Observer.
In 1981 he became political editor for the BBC, and became a familiar figure on television and radio. Cole was an astute observer of the political scene. He correctly forecast Margaret Thatcher
's resignation as Prime Minister in 1990.
Since his retirement in 1992 he has written a number of books. His best selling political memoir, As It Seemed To Me, was published in 1995 and his first novel, A Clouded Peace, was published in 2001.
In May 1992 he was awarded an honorary degree
from the Open University
as Doctor of the University.
He is married to Madge and has four sons and nine grandchildren. Although a unionist
from a Protestant background, Cole has always identified with the Labour Party
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/donald-macintyre/a-few-flaws-dont-make-the-bbc-institutionally-biased-717791.html. He is also a British Republican
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
journalist and broadcaster. He was the BBC's Political Editor
Political Editor
The political editor of a newspaper or broadcast media is the senior political reporter who covers politics and related matters for the newspaper or station...
from 1981 to 1992.
John Cole was educated at the Belfast Royal Academy
Belfast Royal Academy
The Belfast Royal Academy is the oldest school in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a co-educational, non-denominational voluntary grammar school situated in north Belfast. The Academy is one of eight Northern Irish schools whose Headmaster is a member of the Headmasters' and...
and (externally) at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
. During his career as a print journalist, he worked at the Belfast Telegraph, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
, rising to become the deputy editor of in turn The Guardian and The Observer.
In 1981 he became political editor for the BBC, and became a familiar figure on television and radio. Cole was an astute observer of the political scene. He correctly forecast Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's resignation as Prime Minister in 1990.
Since his retirement in 1992 he has written a number of books. His best selling political memoir, As It Seemed To Me, was published in 1995 and his first novel, A Clouded Peace, was published in 2001.
In May 1992 he was awarded an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
from the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
as Doctor of the University.
He is married to Madge and has four sons and nine grandchildren. Although a unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
from a Protestant background, Cole has always identified with the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/donald-macintyre/a-few-flaws-dont-make-the-bbc-institutionally-biased-717791.html. He is also a British Republican
Republicanism in the United Kingdom
Republicanism in the United Kingdom is the movement which seeks to remove the British monarchy and replace it with a republic that has a non-hereditary head of state...
.