29 May 2000

From the Editor…

sue-matthias Welcome to the New Statesman website. Whether you are a new reader or an existing one - online or via the magazine - I hope you'll enjoy the great writing, fresh ideas and provocative debate that make the New Statesman Britain's award-winning current affairs weekly

Sue Matthias, Acting Editor, New Statesman

Features

We must sink our differences

By Neal Lawson

By Neal Lawson and Neil Sherlock. A leading Blairite and a former adviser to Paddy Ashdown call for a new attempt at Lib-Lab collaboration

Neighbours in hell

By Roy Hattersley

Roy Hattersleymeets five poor families who live in the shadow of the Dome. How can a government that finds £29m for a white elephant claim to have no money for them?

Lies, bedroom lies and statistics

By Barbara Gunnell

The English? Top for female orgasms? Barbara Gunnellargues that Shere Hite should have asked around a bit more

The believers who despise our ways

By Joan Bakewell

Joan Bakewell attends the German trial of an Islamic leader and fears that, across Europe, democracy faces an alarming threat

The French do it longest

By David Lawday

When presidents serve for seven years, it is at the cost of democratic sanity and probity in public life. David Lawday in Paris finds growing support for change

You can't pass the buck in Africa

By Karl Maier

Who is to blame for crises in Sierra Leone and other African countries? Colonisers and colonised must share responsibility, argues Karl Maier

Nice blooms, shame about the bees

By Jill Hamilton

The plants at Chelsea Flower Show may look spectacular, but many are not environmentally friendly

Royal ties that no longer bind

By Alistair Moffat

New Statesman Scotland

The bright young face of Nationalism Lite

By Tom Brown

New Statesman Scotland - The SNP is learning to speak to the unconverted. Tom Brown listens to one of its newest champions, who has already learnt to bite his tongue

Putting disability on the agenda

By Claire Walker

New Statesman Scotland - A man who believes his battle against polio gave him added insight is leading the fight for equality

Primary Tartan

New Statesman Scotland

Samuel Smiles

New Statesman Scotland

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Undone by its own hype

Diary

How could I not remember getting "Make-up Tips for the Busy Woman" from Margaret Thatcher?

By Sue MacGregor

Paul Routledge

By Paul Routledge

Our soldiers aren't in Sierra Leone for the sake of morals or democracy. They are there for the control of diamonds

By John Pilger

Some corners of the Caribbean that are forever France

By Darcus Howe

Leo can put the heart into Tony Blair's lost hinterland

By Cristina Odone

This England

Authors who sell millions of copies feel resentment toward writers who don't sell and don't even care

By Sean French

Yes, I too have taken brown envelopes. But the New Statesman has put an end to that

By Laurie Taylor

Competition - Win a bottle of champagne

Arts & Culture

Will they survive?

By D J Taylor

Literary reputation is hard won, and rarely relinquished without a struggle. We look at how the reputations of some of the 20th century's greatest writers have been secured and protected. Starting with D J Taylor on the Amises, we ask: will they survive?