When veteran parliamentary sketch writer, Quentin Letts, announced that he was leaving the Daily Mail to write for the Times, Sunday Times and the Sun last November, talk immediately turned to who would fill his shoes. The move was considered to be quite a loss for the Mail: Letts has been skewering politicians on behalf of the paper for over twenty years. At the time, it was rumoured that his enthusiastic support for Brexit led to a rift with the recently installed editor Geordie Greig.
Which may explain why since the announcement, both the date of his departure and the name of his replacement have remained a closely guarded secret at Mail HQ.
But now, word reaches Mr Steerpike that Mail journalist Henry Deedes has won the coveted position. Deedes has been writing for the Mail since 2011, and currently covers the city diary under the moniker ‘Dastardly Mr Deedes’.
Mr S understands that the reins will be handed to Deedes imminently, with Letts due to officially leave the paper this week.
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