Andy McSmith has been Chief Reporter of the INDEPENDENT newspaper since April 2007, having previously been a political correspondent on the same paper, and Political Editor of the INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY and Chief Political Correspondent of the DAILY TELEGRAPH and OBSERVER.

He is the author of four books: biographies of John Smith and Kenneth Clarke, a collection of short biographies called FACES OF LABOUR, and a novel, INNOCENT IN THE HOUSE. He has also contributed to numerous other books. He lives in London.