Colin MacKay

Colin Hinshelwood MacKay (27 August 1944 – 10 November 2023) was a Scottish journalist who served as political editor of STV for nineteen years. He also worked in radio broadcasting for sixteen years.

Early life and education Colin Hinshelwood MacKay was born in Glasgow on 27 August 1944. His mother Charlotte was a housewife and his father was Charles MacKay, MacKay had two brothers, Charles and Stewart,

MacKay was educated at Kelvinside Academy and later published a book on the school.

After leaving school, he studied at Jordanhill College of Education. He later studied at the University of Glasgow, joining the university's Liberal Club and debating society through Glasgow University Union, In March 1967, he and his teammate Matthew J. McQueen won the National Union of Students' competition for the Observer Mace, making them the sixth team from the university to do so. Following their victory, MacKay embarked on a British Information Services-sponsored tour of Canada with a new teammate.

MacKay was awarded a Master of Arts degree in 1966 with honours in English, before studying for a diploma in education. After he left that role in 1986, he began reporting on the British Parliament from London. He then hosted Politics Tonight for the same radio station. He was remembered by several politicians, including former first minister Alex Salmond, Lord Foulkes of Cumnock, Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, Jim Sillars and former prime minister Gordon Brown. Richard Rose, a prominent political scientist in Scotland, also paid tribute.

Published works Kelvinside Academy, 1878–1978 (1978)