UK Sunday Telegraph editor Lawson resigns

Dominic Lawson resigned as editor of Britain's Sunday Telegraph overnight (NZT), stepping down from the post he has held since 1995 less than a year after new owners bought the newspaper.

No reason was given for the move and a spokesperson for the newspaper said Lawson was not available to comment.

Sarah Sands, 44, deputy editor of the Telegraph's daily edition, will take over for Lawson, 48, the newspaper said.

"We would like to thank Dominic for his 10-year contribution to The Sunday Telegraph during which he made the newspaper the leading Sunday news agenda-setter," said Murdoch MacLennan, chief executive of the Telegraph Group.

The Daily and Sunday Telegraph were bought last year for £665 million ($1725.9 million) by twin brothers David and Frederick Barclay, the owners of London's Ritz hotel.

The Sunday Telegraph has suffered even more than its quality counterparts in the widespread circulation woes afflicting Britain's national newspapers.

In May, it posted its lowest circulation figures -- 666,031 -- since April 1996, according to data from the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). The figure is down 5.9 per cent from a year ago.

Over the past year, the rival Sunday Times circulation has gained 1.4 per cent to 1,349,943, while the Independent on Sunday is down 1.9 per cent to 206,607, and The Observer has been flat at 441,802.

- REUTERS