Paul Dacre steps down, Twitter reacts

Paul Dacre has announced he is to step down from his role of editor of the Daily Mail, after 26 years in charge. The media giant will become chairman and editor in chief of Associated Newspapers (which changed its name to DMG Media), but this move still marks the end of an era in British news.

It’s difficult to know where to begin when talking about Dacre, his success as an editor is unquestionable but his role in society has often been contentious and many are celebrating the news of his departure.

Dacre used his announcement to staff to talk about the success of the Mail under his editorship, the paper’s victories – from the famous Stephen Lawrence front page to the recent anti-plastics campaign – and the whole team’s effort in the ‘battle for freedom of expression against those who seek to impose statutory regulation of the press’.

Lord Rothermere, who owns the publisher but has always given Dacre editorial freedom, said, ‘Paul is, quite simply, the greatest Fleet Street Editor of his generation’.

The BBC’s media editor, Amol Rajan, who seemingly broke the story last night, said, ‘Paul Dacre was the last of his kind’.

On Twitter the reaction was more mixed.

Paul Dacre is stepping down as Daily Mail editor. End of an era for Fleet Street and the country. pic.twitter.com/80PbTAhUz8

— Dominic Ponsford (@Domponsford) June 6, 2018

Paul Dacre has run a newspaper that has demonised, stigmatised, and bullied lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for decades. His legacy is one of division, bigotry and fear-mongering. Britain – and the media – will be a better place without him.

— Patrick Strudwick (@PatrickStrud) June 6, 2018

Worried that Paul Dacre is “doing a Ukrainian journalist”.

— Helen Lewis (@helenlewis) June 6, 2018

BREAKING: Live scenes from Paul Dacre’s leaving drinks: pic.twitter.com/sPfcaafztv

— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) June 6, 2018

Thing is, people, when he got it right, Paul Dacre was a bloody genius. And he got it right more often than most of you would like. My 2p. *plans to spend the next 24 hours off Twitter*

— Tim Shipman (@ShippersUnbound) June 6, 2018

Going on @SkyNews now to talk about the departure of Paul Dacre from the Daily Mail the greatest editor of his generation

— Andrew Pierce (@toryboypierce) June 6, 2018

Paul Dacre will be the last of his kind: the greatest campaigning editor of his era

— Andrew Pierce (@toryboypierce) June 6, 2018

His support of the current Conservative Government and its leader Theresa May has also been highlighted by many, including Matt Chorley in his hugely influential Red Box email. Chorley wrote: ‘Theresa May reads The Times because she likes the Sudoku. She reads the Daily Mail because she likes to know what Britain thinks. Well, her idea of Britain. And really it’s about what Paul Dacre, her loudest cheerleader, thinks.’

Chorley also quotes an unnamed government source who text him saying ‘Bad news for Theresa. Dacre’s the last person in the country who thought she was any good’. Ouch.

As for Dacre’s replacement, there are many contenders being touted by the press, from The Sun’s Tony Gallagher and the Telegraph’s Chris Evans to the Mail on Sunday’s Georgie Greig:

Please sign my Change dot org petition: “Instate Geordie Greig as Daily Mail editor to piss off Paul Dacre”. It’s an important issue close to my heart.

— Conor Pope (@Conorpope) June 6, 2018

What hasn’t been overlooked is one particular outside choice. Before Paul Dacre became editor of the Mail, he had a brief stint editing the Evening Standard. Someone else who is currently a short period into his editorship of the Evening Standard is George Osborne. Though suggestions he wanted the job were quickly denied by the man himself:

Errr … actually, I’m watching Love Island https://t.co/IBkDP27Qck

— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) June 6, 2018

Dacre will step down in November, before his 70th birthday.