Laura Kuenssberg details awkward hotel meeting in new book

Former BBC News political editor Laura Kuenssberg has described an uncomfortable encounter with a government minister that she detailed in her new book, Pay Attention. The account offers a specific look at the informal and sometimes awkward dynamics of Westminster journalism.

Kuenssberg, who served as the BBC’s political editor from 2015 to 2022, was attending a party conference when she went to a hotel room for an arranged meeting with a minister. She had expected to find the official and his adviser in the room. Instead, she found the minister sprawled on the bed with his wife.

When asked by The Times if the couple were expecting a threesome, Kuenssberg responded, “Well, maybe they were and maybe they weren’t. As I say, maybe they weren’t and I got it completely wrong. It was very uncomfortable.”

She also recounted a separate incident involving another married minister. That official invited her for coffee to discuss work but instead suggested they go to the theatre and for “a little grope.” Kuenssberg noted that politicians have also greeted her with kisses on the forehead and texted her about her clothing, which eventually led her to stop contacting them.

Kuenssberg, now 50, said, “People do things. And human behaviour is a complicated thing, and sometimes people behave badly.” She added, “There is still a concern in Westminster that particularly young people starting out are sometimes very vulnerable.”

Since leaving the BBC’s political desk in 2022, Kuenssberg has hosted the show Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. She was the first woman to hold the position of political editor at the BBC.