The Guardian's letters page has been filled with heartfelt tributes following the publication of Martin Kettle's final regular weekly column, marking the end of a remarkable 41-year tenure on the newspaper's staff.
A legacy of thoughtful analysis
Readers from across the United Kingdom have written in to express their profound appreciation for Kettle's work, highlighting the unique qualities he brought to political journalism. Many emphasised how his analysis consistently managed to strike the right note, offering depth and perspective without resorting to simplistic or immediate solutions.
Kirsty Devaney from Dundee articulated a sentiment shared by many, expressing real regret upon reaching the end of his last regular piece. "His analysis of the political situation always hits the right spot without looking for any easy or instant solution," she wrote. Devaney noted that Kettle's approach, as illustrated by his final column's headline on 15 January – 'The world of today looks bad, but take hope: we’ve been here before and got through it – and we will again' – never allowed readers to forget that political events have deep roots and context.
Championing civil discourse in turbulent times
The letters also connected Kettle's measured approach to journalism with broader concerns about the state of public debate. Geof Sewell from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, provided a poignant local example of efforts to rebuild civility in political discourse.
Sewell described a concerning local climate where hundreds of union flags were fastened to streetlamps without permission and pro-Palestinian demonstrators faced regular abuse. In response, local Quakers hosted a meeting in the first week of January, bringing together political and religious leaders. The gathering included a pro-Palestinian group leader, a Reform UK parliamentary candidate, contributors from other parties, and local church figures.
"There was no point in holding a plenary, so in the final 20 minutes, we all spoke to our neighbours about why we had come and what we had learned," Sewell recounted, describing the event as a symbolic thaw in a frozen winter. A retired diplomat present concluded that Britain remains resilient and more tolerant than most, while the local vicar emphasised a common concern to express differences with tolerance and kindness.
A trusted voice will be missed
Other correspondents simply offered their direct thanks. Chris Wood from Stirling stated that Kettle's page was "always the go-to page in Thursday’s print editions," a testament to the columnist's reliability and insight.
While acknowledging that they did not always agree with him, readers like Geof Sewell stated plainly, "How much I shall miss Martin Kettle." Kirsty Devaney echoed this, expressing hope that he will continue to contribute to The Guardian's pages, underscoring the significant void his regular column leaves. The collective message from the letters is clear: in an era often dominated by noise and instant reaction, Martin Kettle's methodical, historically-grounded, and civil approach to political commentary represented a valued and increasingly rare commodity.
