Simon Kelner is leaving his position as editor of the Independent.

The Jewish writer has edited the paper for 13 years and oversaw the decision to introduce a cheaper daily edition last year, the ipaper.

Mr Kelner will remain as editor-in-chief of the Independent, but day-to-day responsibility for the paper and its Sunday title will go to Chris Blackhurst, an Evening Standard journalist.

Mr Kelner has been named GQ magazine's editor of the year twice.

This week he was forced to defend his paper's columnist Johann Hari, who was criticised for passing off comments made at another time by Israeli writer Gideon Levy as part of an interview with him.