Chris Kane, Labour MP for Stirling & Strathallan

Chris Kane, Labour MP for Stirling and Strathallan, joins 650 for a conversation about family history, community, public service and the path from local radio to Westminster.

Chris grew up in Stirling in a close-knit family, with his father running the electrical shop founded by his grandfather. He reflects on the stories that have stayed with him: one grandfather’s experience landing on D-Day, and another’s life changing overnight when his own father was killed in a mining accident. Chris’s grandfather had to leave school, become a grocer’s apprentice and help support his family before eventually founding the business that remains in the family today.

Chris also discusses working at a local radio station from the age of 15, watching the legacy of pit closures in his community, becoming involved in politics through his local community council, and progressing through every level of elected local government in Scotland before entering Parliament in 2024.

He makes the case for valuing political experience, shares the nerve-racking reality of election night, and explains why becoming an MP can feel like starting a senior job with no formal training.

650 meets the people behind the politics, with one mission: to interview all 650 MPs.