George Eaton promoted to New Statesman political editor as Rafael Behr returns to Guardian News and Media

George Eaton is to succeed Rafael Behr as political editor of the New Statesman.

Behr is moving to The Guardian as a political columnist and writer, he joined the New Statesman from The Observer in 2011. Eaton joined the New Statesman as a graduate trainee in 2009 and has been editor of its rolling politics blog The Staggers.

New Statesman editor Jason Cowley said: “George, who has been with me almost from the start of my editorship, is one of the outstanding journalistic talents of his generation and is one of the most gifted people I have ever worked with. He is both an incisive political commentator and a tenacious and instinctive story-getter.”

Eaton said: “It is a privilege to take on this position at the most exciting and unpredictable moment in British politics for a generation. I look forward to maintaining and enhancing the New Statesman’s reputation for intellectual rigour, breaking news and political insight.”

Behr said: “The New Statesman occupies a very special place in British politics, media, history and culture. It has been a privilege to work with the immensely talented team that has made it, without doubt, the liveliest, smartest and most creative weekly magazine covering politics in Britain today.”