John Carvel is social affairs editor of The Guardian. He has been a staff writer for the paper since 1973, including periods as a business reporter, industrial correspondent, local government correspondent, political correspondent, home affairs editor, European affairs editor and education editor.

He is the author of two biographies on Ken Livingstone, Citizen Ken (1984) and Turn Again Livingstone (1999). He has the Freedom of Information Award for a successful legal action in the European Court against official secrecy at the EU Council of Ministers. Other awards included commendations in the British Press Awards for 1984 and 1990, local government journalist of the year in 1985, legal affairs journalist of the year in 1991 and medical journalist of the year in 2004.