A regional lobby reporter whose job involved holding the government to account over its record on levelling-up is leaving for a new role with the BBC.

Dan O’Donoghue has worked for Reach plc for the past year as Westminster editor for its titles in the North of England, including the Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, The Chronicle, Teesside Gazette and Yorkshire Live.

He was also heavily involved in writing for the publisher’s online publication The Northern Agenda which has sought to shape the political debate around levelling-up.

Dan, pictured, is now leaving the parliamentary lobby after five years to join the BBC at Media City in Salford, working across TV, radio and online.

He first came to Westminster as a political reporter for the Press Association in 2017 before becoming political editor of Aberdeen daily The Press and Journal.

Dan told HTFP: “It’s been a rollercoaster five years in Westminster. When I joined the Press Association in 2017 we’d just had an election which dashed Theresa May’s hopes of securing an outright majority and I had a front row seat on all the Brexit chaos that was to follow.

“I’ve covered Boris Johnson’s rise and fall, a global pandemic and in the last year along with brilliant colleagues on the Northern Agenda we’ve been holding the Government’s feet to the fire on levelling up.

“The Northern Agenda is a fantastic newsletter, with a great team behind it. I’m now looking forward to a new challenge with the BBC in Media City, working across TV, radio and online.”

Tweeting about the job move, he said: “After 5 years (3 PMs/1 Gen Election/Brexit/Covid) in Westminster, it’s time for a change. Delighted to say I’ll be returning North to join the BBC in Media City later this month.”

His role with Reach plc is expected to be advertised shortly.