04 October 2004

From the Editor…

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

Jason Cowley, Editor, New Statesman

Cover story

Muslim is not a dirty word

When government and the media persist in defining British Muslims by their religion, they turn them into automatic suspects in any case of terrorism

By Nick Cohen

Features

Black and gay and hunted

By Peter Tatchell

In Jamaica, lesbians and gays are the victims of violent persecution - often murder. Fuelling this gay-bashing are popular reggae lyrics. Peter Tatchell takes on their singers

4 comments

Why I'm proud to be a TOG

By Viv Groskop

Today's alienated thirtysomethings are spurning iPods and switching on to Terry Wogan. Viv Groskop explains why

Not welcome in the Holy Land

By Sejal Mandalia

Indian Jews believed Israel was home, but when they got there, they were seen as pariahs

Why we need a Who Owns What

By Antony Mack

Land campaign - Today, in the age of electronic communication, we know less than the Victorians about property ownership in Britain

America's foes prepare for a monetary jihad

By Janet Bush

The US dollar has long been the currency of the oil industry. But members of Opec are contemplating ditching greenbacks. The results could be catastrophic for the American economy, reports Janet Bush

Essay

NS Essay - Britain is now back to levels of gross income inequality

By Stewart Lansley

The rich are getting richer, faster. Yet those who call into question their rights to such great wealth are accused, even by those on the moderate left, of the "politics of envy"

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Interview

The NS Interview - Michael Howard

By John Kampfner

The Tory leader says Blair lied about Iraq and argues that Labour's core beliefs make it powerless to deliver on choice. Michael Howard interviewed

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Pay women fairly to put an end to poverty

The Politics Column

Politics - John Kampfner on Labour's deep unfashionability

By John Kampfner

New Labour is no longer the party of shiny, happy people, and it is no longer fashionable. This may be no bad thing: the party will learn patience and gain intellectual strength

John Pilger on why we ignored Iraq in the 1990s

By John Pilger

Even before the 2003 war, we were attacking Iraqi civilians with our inhumane economic sanctions. Yet where were the media protesting against this injustice?

Darcus Howe worries in Hurricane Ivan's wake

By Darcus Howe

In the wake of Hurricane Ivan, what is left for the smaller Caribbean islands?

Amanda Platell cringes for Ed Balls

By Amanda Platell

I blame Jack Straw's faux pas, shaking Robert Mugabe's hand, on his new contact lenses

Mark Kermode - Strange lives

By Mark Kermode

As two men are raised from the dead, one will turn in his grave, writes Mark Kermode The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (15) De-Lovely (PG) Layer Cake (15)

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

The celebrity champion

By David Benedict

Gramophone magazine has chosen six famous faces to endorse the nominees for the title of Classical Record of the Year. Why? David Benedict has a few suggestions

Still still life

By Richard Cork

Contemporary art - The electric colour and intricate outlines of Michael Craig-Martin's art dazzle Richard Cork with drama and questions

Well blow me down!

By Dan Hancox

Pirate culture - Shiver me timbers and pieces of eight: learning how to speak like Bluebeard and co is the latest craze taking hold of even the uber-hip, discovers Dan Hancox

Theatre

Michael Portillo - Don't bite

By Michael Portillo

Theatre - A new vampire musical is a bloody mess, writes Michael Portillo Bat Boy Shaftesbury Theatre, London WC2

Television

Andrew Billen - Trouble at the top

By Andrew Billen

Television - The issues of the week are hit on the head: trust and Brown. By Andrew Billen Do You Still Believe in Tony? (BBC2) Friends and Neighbours (BBC2)

The Fan