[steve]

Indeed, not entirely sure why we ended up with Home Affairs Correspondents and a Home Editor but that's the BBC for you...

I think they are to have slightly different remits - Mark Easton as Home Editor was much more policy focused, so whether that be immigration, crime, etc.

I think the new role is some of that but also if there's a major UK event, they'll be there to lead the coverage which is something the BBC haven't really had for a while. Gavin Hewitt did that sort of role for a while, but I suspect if it's big and it happens in the UK, Ed Thomas will end up there in the same way as Jeremy Bowen would for international.