[House]

Wasn't Chief Political Correspondent originally the senior reporter for the News channel (Edwards, Sopel, Robinson, etc.)? It does seem to have merged into a wider role in recent years (and, of course, there were once Chief Political Correspondents for other channels and even programmes), but I've never been clear on the real differences in hierarchy and responsibilities between the various senior political correspondents - though simpler now, as you say, they've ditched having an Assistant and Deputy Political Editor at the same time.

The role generally includes coverage on Radio 4 today (pre-8:10), BBC Breakfast and Politics Live. Not sure if they make schedules appearances on other radio, like Five Live.

As for Nick Eardley, it does appear the position was temporary:

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