Martin Kettle is a Guardian associate editor and columnist
January 2025
After Southport, Westminster is floundering. It should look to Idris Elba
Martin Kettle
The Home Office has some good ideas, but a documentary on knife crime by the actor offers the template for a new approach, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle
It’s the reign of King Donald: now a people who fled cruel monarchs have their own
Martin Kettle
George Washington would have recognised the new system at the White House, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle
Jenůfa review – this opera is in Hrůša’s DNA, his account is not to be missed
Keir Starmer’s handling of the Tulip Siddiq affair forms part of a worrying pattern
Martin Kettle
Elon Musk is a monster bully on the loose, but he can only get his way if we let him
Martin Kettle
December 2024
Millions of Britons want a fresh start and a new life. But they will find it at home, not in Australia
Martin Kettle
We now have a plan to make England’s local government work – but I fear party politics will trash it
Martin Kettle
La Bohème review – action rather than angst in lively revival
Starmer’s Labour knows the kind of Britain it wants – it just doesn’t know how to build it
Martin Kettle
November 2024
Tosca review – Bryn Terfel’s lustful Scarpia returns to intimidate and compel
Philharmonia/Blomstedt review – the collective performance of a lifetime
Sue Gray’s final departure marks the moment that the Starmer project gets serious
Martin Kettle
The shocking US election result will create a new world order – and launch a fresh wave of Trump wannabes
Martin Kettle
BBCSO/Oramo review – Kirill Gerstein plays the near unplayable
After Reeves’s historic budget, Labour has time to pursue its revolution. What it needs now is public trust
Martin Kettle
October 2024
Rigoletto review – Miller’s mafioso take still brings style and insights to Verdi’s masterpiece
Jonathan Miller’s iconic staging for ENO is 40 years old but with Richard Farnes conducting and a striking debut from Robyn Allegra Parton as Gilda, this remains a vibrant and engaging production
The US election interference row tells us this: Starmer’s political compass urgently needs resetting
Martin Kettle
While it’s likely Labour did nothing illegal in assisting its politicos to volunteer for Harris, it’s yet another issue that was easily avoidable, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle
Does Starmer believe in anything, people ask, and now we know: his credo is the rule of law
Martin Kettle
The Turn of the Screw review – creepy and challenging, ENO’s new Britten staging is an ambiguous triumph
Fidelio review – Kratzer’s iconoclastic take turns Beethoven into something it’s not
