Stephen Nolan's right hand man appointed Stormont's chief spin doctor

In a shock move, David Gordon – who has been editor of The Nolan Show on Radio Ulster for three years – is to become the most senior spokesman for First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Both ministers played up the significance of the 51-year-old’s appointment, stressing that it had been a joint decision and heralding it as evidence of a new era for the widely-criticised Stormont administration.

Mr Gordon had been producer of the Nolan Show before taking over as editor and before that had been Political Editor of the Belfast Telegraph, prior to which he had been the paper’s Investigations Editor.

In that role, he played a central part in uncovering many of the links between the then DUP junior minister Ian Paisley Jr and the property developer Seymour Sweeney, which ultimately led to Mr Paisley’s resignation as junior minister, something which destabilised Mr Paisley’s First Minister father, who was forced out by the DUP a short time later.

Mr Gordon later wrote a book about the story, entitled The Fall of The House of Paisley.

In a statement, the ministers said that the Executive Press Secretary role would involve “providing expert media advice to the First Minister, deputy First Minister and wider Executive, as well as spearheading the communication of Executive policies and strategies”.

They said: “We are delighted that David, an experienced and well-regarded journalist, has agreed to take up this post.

“This is a joint appointment, reflecting the Executive’s shared commitment to communicate effectively and move forward together and we look forward to working closely with David as our Executive Press Secretary.

“We have a good story to tell of a united Executive team making good on its promises to the electorate. Ministers are absolutely determined to work collectively to deliver Government that makes a positive difference to people’s lives. This is what a Fresh Start looks like.”

Mr Gordon rarely contributed on air to the Nolan Show but Mr Nolan has on several occasions spoken of his admiration for the veteran journalist.

Prior to the Assembly election, Mr Nolan grilled a representative of all the major parties about their manifestos in a segment which was highly praised for getting beneath the gloss which each party wanted to put on its policy proposals. Mr Nolan said on air that it was Mr Gordon who had spent hours trawling through the various manifestos to find areas for questioning.

Mr Nolan, who is on holiday in the US, joked that he “knew that Arlene and Martin were big fans of the Nolan Show”.

The BBC broadcaster told the News Letter: “I have no hesitation in describing David Gordon as the most talented, knowledgeable political journalist there is.

“The Nolan Show has held Stormont to account for many years now and David has been at the very heart of this. He is a political anorak, the very best and the most decent.

“His journalism is aggressive, but fairness and integrity is always his core bottom line. I wish David all the very best in his new role, especially when he receives the daily treatment from the Nolan Show! In fact, I have 155 press enquiries about the Executive that I’d like David to answer already.”

In a statement, Mr Gordon said: “This is an opportunity I simply could not turn down. It’s an exciting new challenge for me after some five and a half very rewarding years with the Nolan Show and BBC.

“Politics has changed at Stormont with the Fresh Start Agreement and the outcome of May’s Assembly Election. Bread and butter issues will be at the forefront of the next five years and the Executive has vital work to do improving and protecting public services.

“I will enjoy getting a different perspective on the interaction between journalists and Government. Journalists have a duty to hold politicians to account and ask the tough questions that need to be asked. I’ve always tried to do that.

“But it is important that Government has space to make its case too.”

Mr Gordon’s appointment comes just a day after the Executive announced that another former BBC journlaist – former BBC NI political editor Stephen Grimason – was retiring from what has until now been the most senior press officer role within the Executive, that of director of communications.

Mr Grimason had been in that role for 15 years.