DEPUTY political editor John Pienaar is leaving the BBC after nearly three decades to join the News UK station Times Radio.

Pienaar, 63, said in a tweet: “Personal news: I am leaving to join the soon-to-be-launched Times Radio as Drive Time presenter.

"It has been an enormous privilege and pleasure to report and present for the Beeb.”

Pienaar is also known for Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live.

His announcement comes as the BBC is under pressure from the Government.

Downing Street is reportedly considering replacing the TV licence fee with a subscription model, forcing the sale of most BBC radio stations, cutting the number of television stations and reducing the amount of online content.

However, Conservative MP Huw Merriman warned his own party against "picking a potentially unpopular fight" with the BBC.

He warned, in a column in The Daily Telegraph, that the corporation "should not be a target".

The BBC's accounts for 2018/19 said Pienaar earns between £160,000 and £164,999.

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