BURNLEY-born Ian Hargreaves, former editor of The Independent, is to be the next editor of The New Statesman.

Mr Hargreaves, 44, who spent 18 months in charge at The Independent, will take up the post in mid-April. He was widely tipped to replace outgoing editor Steve Platt,

Millionaire businessman and Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson recently bought the 80-year-old magazine, which has traditionally taken a left-wing stance, and is reported to be pumping in £375,000 of his own money.

Mr Hargreaves, who was educated at Burnley Grammar School, was director of BBC News and Current Affairs before joining the Financial Times as deputy editor in 1990.

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