He was a member of the Westminster staff of the Press Association between 1980 and 1986.

John joined the Independent newspaper when it launched under the editorship of Andreas Whittam Smith in 1986, and as a member of Tony Bevins' team he covered the downfall of Margaret Thatcher, and the rise and fall of John Major, writing news stories, features and the Westminster Diary, as well as occasional parliamentary sketch columns.

In 1992 John joined the BBC as a BBC political correspondent, reporting for all major TV and Radio outlets.

BBC Radio Five Live, the live news and sport station, has since appointed John Pienaar as its first Chief Political Correspondent.

John will be a regular voice on Five Live's award-winning Breakfast programme, bringing listeners all the main political stories of the morning. John will also report live from the major events in the political calendar.

Having covered politics for BBC Television and Radio, as well as working in Fleet Street for over 20 years, John Pienaar brings a wealth of experience to the new role.  The BBC's main political correspondent for the BBC ONE Ten o’clock News, John has also held the role of Constitutional Affairs correspondent reporting on the Scottish and Welsh devolution campaigns.

John is a political heavyweight and has huge credibility in Westminster.

John's speech gives an amazing insight into Westminster politics.