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 JSA) 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 & Rishi Sunak 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 & was on the Tory battle bus throughout the 2024 election. My investigation into the conviction of Louise Haigh in relation to an allegedly stolen phone led to her resignation as Transport Secretary in November 2024.

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 with specific focus on crime and social care. 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