You'll notice a few changes when you pick up your latest New Statesman. This week sees the launch of our new Observations section, a series of capsule essays on culture, society and ideas. Inside, Jonathan Derbyshire reviews Jon Cruddas's Attlee Memorial Lecture and that the "Blue Labour" band has reformed, Helen Lewis-Hasteley asks why people won't stop messing with Jane Austen, Michael Brooks explains what nature can teach us about the financial system, and Sophie Elmhirst visits architect Zaha Hadid's inner-city school.

We've also redesigned the back pages, launching new columns on food and drink. Nina Caplan, our new drink critic, will alternate with Felicity Cloake, our new food critic.

All this, plus David Miliband on what he's learned during his time as Labour's universities ambassador, Nicholas Shaxson on why the City of London Corporation is the right target for the protesters, and Imran Khan on Obama's mistakes and why he doesn't fear assassination.

Please do pick up a copy of the magazine (out tomorrow in London and the rest of the country on Friday) and let us know your thoughts.