Which former Labour MP will replace Laidlaw?

Stuff reports:

The competition is already heating up to replace Chris Laidlaw as host of National Radio’s Sunday morning show. He will present his last show on December 22, it was confirmed yesterday.

Radio New Zealand networks manager John Howson said Laidlaw had signalled before last month’s elections that he would retire if elected to both the Greater Wellington Regional Council and Capital & Coast District Health Board, as he subsequently was.

At least two high-profile journalists with radio experience had expressed interest, he said, and it was hoped that a replacement would be named by the time the show resumed after the summer break, on January 26.

Former TVNZ head of news Bill Ralston said he expected a lot of hands would be high in the air from both inside and outside RNZ. “It’s an opportunity to inject some life into the show . . .”

Laidlaw had been labelled a “leftie”, and his departure was a chance for the network to shift toward the centre of the political spectrum.

Mr Howson said any suggestion that the show was “left-leaning” was only public perception.

Only public perception? You must be kidding!!