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Kevin Mckenna

Kevin Mckenna

The Guardian

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We owe Nicola a debt of gratitude - but she must never lead a future indy campaign

Professor Sir John Curtice is the alpha and the omega of psephology; the pole star of political science. Such is his eloquent wisdom around the...

yesterday 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Good old Gordon Brown. He jolly well came to the rescue of Toryland UK

My primary school teacher would occasionally chivvy us out of our bad habits with an assortment of admonitory apercus. One of her favourites was a...

18.12.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Judy Murray’s words on men in women’s sport shame us all

In the digital age, journalists must exercise a measure of caution when judging the levels of response to their work. We have all learned to discern...

11.12.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: As our politicians back 'assisted dying', beware the Codger Catchers

As plans for 'assisted dying' advance through Holyrood and Westminster, columnist Kevin McKenna looks into his crystal ball - and doesn't like what...

03.12.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

SNP advancing the idea that a man can become pregnant embarrasses us all Indeed my opposition to assisted dying is formed by my socialist beliefs in protecting society’s most vulnerable people.

Has the organised and professional left ever been more out of touch with the people it purports to represent? The question is worth asking, I think,...

01.12.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: The elites will use assisted suicide to target the poor

An insidious inversion of what we consider to be "liberal" has occurred across the UK in recent years. This has often been evident in the targeting...

26.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Flynn is the SNP's last chance. Let the bloodletting begin

Being an affable sort of chiel who never bears grudges, I was happy to impart some advice to Stephen Flynn towards the end of last year when we caught...

19.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Why would anyone not want to live in Cumnock? 'It’s about having a vision. The town itself is very vibrant'

The greatest ever match report about the brutal world of Ayrshire Junior football was written 30 years by Graham Spiers, then Scotland’s pre-eminent...

18.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

To all Scotland's 'liberals', no-one gives a Friar Tuck if you flounce away from X To all Scotland's 'liberals', no-one gives a Friar Tuck if you flounce away from X

Not long ago, I conducted a small survey among members of my family and some of my drinking colleagues. They only had to answer one question: are you...

17.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

The counterfeit left failed on Trump - and will lose Holyrood Kevin McKenna believes that the failure of the left to understand Donald Trump’s presidential victory will be mirrored by similar failings here in Scotland when the time comes for change at the Scottish Parliament.

The failure of the counterfeit left to understand Donald Trump’s presidential victory was lamentably evident in Tim Walz’s response the following...

12.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Democrats can blame their own hubris and arrogance for Donald Trump success At around 5.30am the truth began to dawn on Kamala Harris. That was when she cancelled her proposed victory speech at her Washington campaign headquarters.

At around 5.30am the truth began to dawn on Kamala Harris. That was when she cancelled her proposed victory speech at her Washington campaign...

06.11.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Let them in: we can never have too many immigrants or refugees

Though I support Scottish independence, I’m probably not its staunchest or most compelling advocate. Self-determination is merely my preference; not...

05.11.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Harvie's hounding of Forbes over religion really makes me cross

I HAD the pleasure of interviewing the Scottish poet Jenny Lindsay last week. She is one of the bravest and most inspiring people I’ve ever...

03.11.2024 40

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: A glimpse into the darkness at the heart of the Scottish Government

Some of us who questioned the conduct of the Scottish Government leading up to and following the trial of Alex Salmond nevertheless recoiled at...

29.10.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: We should all have a five-year MOT. Fail and it's off to the boot camp

Having listened to both sides of the Assisted Dying debate, it may be that there’s absolutely nothing to worry about after all. In these...

22.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Alex Salmond's enemies in the SNP should fear what will happen now

Of course, it’s safer to castigate a man for his moral flaws after he’s safely gone. You know there can be no prospect of ever having contact with...

15.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Why were Glasgow’s Jewish people intimidated on their saddest day?

On Sunday afternoon, I joined a few hundred members of Glasgow’s Jewish community at Kelvingrove Museum to remember the victims of last October 7. ...

08.10.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin Mckenna: Hike in minimum alcohol price is yet another failed SNP policy

Billy Connolly once described Holyrood as a “wee pretendy parliament”. Many of us who love Scotland’s greatest comic quietly wished he’d not...

01.10.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

As a good Catholic, I'll inform Police Scotland who is praying at abortion clinics The new abortion buffer zone law is in the finest traditions of Scotland’s enlightened approach to freedom of belief. Everybody says so. The bill basically prevents those who believe that all human life is sacred from gathering to pray outside clinics where the procedure is carried out.

The new abortion buffer zone law is in the finest traditions of Scotland’s enlightened approach to freedom of belief. Everybody says so. The bill...

29.09.2024 4

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Let's pray there's no outbreak of unlicensed jollity as Glasgow marks 850th birthday

Glasgow will celebrate its 850th birthday next year, but judging by the city council’s invitation to the party no one can accuse them of getting...

24.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: I visited Scotland’s cheapest seaside town – and found it thriving

I’ve developed a slovenly habit when visiting some of Scotland’s pre-loved seaside towns. It’s triggered when you pass the first barren space...

23.09.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

So George Galloway is now open to indy? Shame the wretched SNP now know it's all over

My very good friend, George Galloway – the Brian Clough of British politics – made a startling declaration on his Twitter/X account last week. Mr...

22.09.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Sir Keir’s guide to making poverty pay for his fellow millionaires

Perhaps we should cut Sir Keir Starmer some slack over his scorched earth approach to leadership. The new Prime Minister has been hoovering up gifts...

20.09.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: 'Scots had independence in their grasp but the SNP dropped it' In August, 2014, a small group of working-class women from Govan invited me to share in their discussion about the forthcoming independence referendum. What unfolded in those two hours encapsulated for me – more than the dozens of other events I attended in 2013 and 2014 - what the entire campaign was supposed to be about.

In August, 2014, a small group of working-class women from Govan invited me to share in their discussion about the forthcoming independence...

14.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Our 'progressive' politicians are a danger to Scotland's most vulnerable people

In the first decade of devolution a tale unfolded about how the Scottish liberal elites routinely trample over the basic human rights of marginalised...

10.09.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: State-funded public restaurants an idea whose time has come

For those of you who have never attended the annual conference of a major political party, the Fear of Missing Out will never haunt what remains of...

03.09.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: I’m a Yes voter but I’m now glad we didn’t win in 2014

For me, Scottish independence was a preference rather than an all-consuming passion. Although, as the subterfuges and misinformation of the No camp...

27.08.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

The truth is thick middle-class SNP elites don’t think addicts are worth their time

There must have been singing and dancing within the Scottish Government at the news Annemarie Ward has decided to step away from the frontline of the...

25.08.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: A dog's view on those so-called dog-friendly restaurants

Me and my pals were discussing the whole dogs in restaurants issue on our DugzApp group chat the other night. Being actual dogs, you’d think we’d...

20.08.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: The far-right escape clause won't wash for the SNP

Who knew the fell forces of the far right lurked around every corner in Scottish civic life? Since the racist contagion began to move down through...

13.08.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Don't be fooled, violence in England is about more than just racism

In Glasgow 22 years ago in a pub on Hope Street I had a conversation with a young English couple, the imprint of which has stayed with me longer than...

06.08.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Joanna Cherry, a fine politician done down by the politics of the playground

IN Scottish political discourse no word has been distorted beyond recognition more than "progressive". You might even go further and consider that...

30.07.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Olympics was a sinister humiliation of Christians who hold The Last Supper sacred

It’s wise, I think, for those who profess belief in religious faith to be cautious about expressing outrage whenever they feel that this is being...

28.07.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Sculptor Andy Scott says he'd love to do Glasgow's AC/DC statue

I am trying to tell Andy Scott, without sounding like a horse’s arse, what his two big Kelpies by the side of the M9 mean to me. I’m telling him...

27.07.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: This survey exposes the SNP's culture of hostility to Christians

The belief that Scotland is a progressive democracy was tested to the full during last year’s SNP leadership contest. It became clear that of the...

23.07.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

‘It's happened again': why The Open doesn't work for everyone

On Troon’s South Beach, two police officers are moving in on a group of middle-aged golf aficionados and I’m sensing the possibility of a towsy...

20.07.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: America is bitterly divided – but so are Scotland and the UK

Thomas Matthew Crooks shared some of the characteristics that have defined several of America’s other casual, day-light assassins. He was white,...

16.07.2024 3

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Forbes and Flynn must come up with a way to remove Swinney

Some reactions from within the SNP to their catastrophic defeat last week seemed to come from a planet far, far away from reality. They indicate not...

08.07.2024 4

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Nicola, look no further for the culprit behind your party's disastrous demise For those of us pulling an eight-hour shift at the P&J conference arena at the Aberdeen election count the task of keeping ourselves occupied could have been challenging.

For those of us pulling an eight-hour shift at the P&J conference arena at the Aberdeen election count the task of keeping ourselves occupied could...

07.07.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: It's all gone wrong in Aberdeen as Douglas Ross loses out

The first fingers of a bright dawn are inching out across the north east of Scotland, seeming to herald the arrival of the new political age. It’s...

05.07.2024 5

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Labour and SNP promise change but what does that mean for our islands?

In bleak and beautiful Stornoway, permanence and certainty have prevailed against the shifting spirits of the age, but they too must defer to the...

03.07.2024 9

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

I want to return home and vote Labour but I can't. Here’s why...

Prior to those heady, blue remembered days of the 2014 referendum campaign I’d always voted Labour. Even after it became clear that Tony Blair and...

02.07.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

This is the sort of community that Labour must capture if they are to displace SNP

As soon as we’d entered the community garden I spotted the gnome lurking in the shrubbery, affecting innocence. And if I’d spotted it, then surely...

29.06.2024 6

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Starmer exposed in debate for English eyes only Host Mishal Husein quickly set the scene for last night’s BBC leaders’ debate. “One by one the questioners will stand up,” she told us before the event. “We want to cover as many topics as possible”. Haud me back. It’s time for some jeopardy to be injected into this tired format.

Host Mishal Husein quickly set the scene for last night’s BBC leaders’ debate. “One by one the questioners will stand up,” she told us before...

27.06.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: Trust? The SNP and the Tories would struggle to spell it

When financial scandals involving the Conservative Party occur, one facet of them always surprises me: that people still retain the capacity to be...

25.06.2024 8

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: I support independence but what is the point of voting SNP now?

We must go back to the early 20th century to observe the last period when a once powerful UK political party suddenly became irrelevant. This was when...

18.06.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Science denial absurdity aside, I have to admit I was very impressed by Lorna Slater

TO Glasgow University’s grand Bute Hall where the televised Scottish leadership debate is taking place. I’ve never been convinced that any of...

16.06.2024 7

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

What a public toilet and Grangemouth refinery tells us about our politicians

In an election campaign of personal ‘firsts’ may I crave your indulgence for just one more? Three weeks ago, I was being driven to my first cattle...

15.06.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

Kevin McKenna: How Scotland’s elites embraced a regressive gender ideology

I’m still haunted by the counsel of a female journalist six years ago when I first felt compelled to write about the debate around gender self-ID....

11.06.2024 20

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

As Douglas Ross quits as Tory leader, where did it all go wrong? When I interviewed Mr Ross in his Moray heartlands two weeks ago, it seemed that he had never been more secure as leader of his party. His four years in charge had been challenging. Some in his own party simply didn’t think he was of sufficient stature to command such a job.

When I interviewed Douglas Ross in his Moray heartlands two weeks ago, it seemed that he had never been more secure as leader of his party. His four...

10.06.2024 10

Herald Scotland

Kevin Mckenna

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