About me

I grew up in rural Herefordshire. When I finished school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life - save for moving to a bigger city. After studying a mix of music, politics & journalism at the University of Liverpool, I set my sights on a career in news reporting - attracted by the idea of essentially being a professional troublemaker.

In 2010 (after a post-graduate spell on the dole) I got my first job in journalism, writing about personal finance. From here I joined BBC South Today, where I learnt the nuts & bolts of news journalism. I started as a producer, before taking on reporting & presenting duties. I also worked as a video journalist shooting & editing my own pieces.

In early 2016, I went on secondment to the BBC network desk in Westminster. I was dropped into the political chaos caused by the vote to leave the EU. I primarily worked in the field and was frequently deployed to doorstep ministers, chase down MPs for interviews & speak to high profile politicians. While mainly working on political output, I also fronted an investigation for The Victoria Derbyshire Programme about the policing of child sexual exploitation.

In January 2019 I joined the Sky News Westminster team as a Political Correspondent. Since then I have covered the rise & fall of the Theresa May, Boris Johnson & Liz Truss governments; the Brexit negotiations & the UK’s eventual departure from the EU; the Covid-19 pandemic & the government’s response to the wars in Ukraine & Gaza. I have been on air during several big breaking stories, including the announcement that Boris Johnson had contracted Covid-19; the Brexit supreme court ruling; the Dominic Cummings ‘Barnard Castle’ affair; the resignation of Matt Hancock as Health Secretary & the implosion of the Liz Truss government. I have reported from overseas, travelling with the Prime Minister to the COP28 summit in Dubai in December 2023. I also write political analysis for the Sky News website, create digital videos, present & contribute to podcasts & pursue my own stories focussed on how policy impacts people outside of Westminster. I have moderated events & delivered speeches on politics & journalism.

I live in South London with my partner & young daughter. I enjoy playing the bass & acoustic guitar & almost abandoned journalism after touring with the band Talons in 2009. Outside of work I like swimming, reading, watching films, listening to music & attempting to grow veg. I spent several years learning Spanish but still can’t really speak it. I love travelling & my favourite trips have been to Japan, China & Israel/Palestine. During the pandemic, I took part in a podcast about rubbish indie music from the noughties. I also restarted my childhood hobby of skateboarding, but then rapidly quit again after breaking my ankle. Turns out I am too old for stuff like that. I now have an allotment instead (which is much safer!) and post updates from the plot at instagram @herb_ur_enthusiasm