Heaney departing McFall office

A FORMER newspaper editor who went on to become a Special Adviser to a First Minister has announced he is parting company, as adviser, with another politician.

Bill Heaney has quit the office of John McFall MP, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, after more than four years as his personal assistant and media adviser.

Heaney, who was previously Special Adviser to Henry McLeish, when he was First Minister, and media adviser to David Martin, vice-president of the European Parliament, said: “It’s time to move on. My departure is by mutual consent.”

The former Lennox Herald editor, who has been three times Weekly Journalist of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards, added: “I’m having the summer off, but I’ll be looking for new challenges in the autumn.”

His journalism career began at the Daily Express.

He is an emeritus editor of the Society of Editors (Scotland), a life member of the National Union of Journalists and a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.