Readers have expressed their appreciation for Martin Kettle following the publication of his final regular weekly column for the Guardian after 41 years on the staff. In letters to the newspaper, they reflected on his legacy and the distinctive qualities of his writing.
Geof Sewell from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, wrote that he would miss Kettle even while disagreeing with him. He described a local meeting in Thirsk where political and religious leaders discussed growing incivility in political discourse, noting that a retired diplomat concluded Britain is resilient and still more tolerant than most others.
Kirsty Devaney from Dundee said she felt real regret that Kettle’s column was his last regular one. She praised his analysis of political situations, which she said always hits the right spot without seeking easy or instant solutions. She added that she would miss turning to his column for careful examination of tricky situations.
Chris Wood from Stirling simply thanked Kettle, calling his column the go-to page in Thursday’s print editions.
