23 May 2005

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

The nuclear charm offensive

We are all being taken in by a carefully planned public relations strategy. Its mission: to push nuclear power back on the political agenda, rebranded as the new "green" alternative

By Jonathan Leake

Features

There is no point in escaping any more

By Nick Cohen

Europe once offered a route to the good life for dowdy Brits. As we contemplate a referendum, perhaps that no longer applies

The French keep it in the family

By David Lawday

Death in the Baltic: the MI6 connection

By Stephen Davis

Nearly 900 people perished when the Estonia ferry sank in 1994. In this exclusive investigation, Stephen Davis reveals that the ship was carrying a secret cargo of military equipment smuggled from the Russians by the British

6 comments

Israel's other war

By Daphna Baram

The socialist foundations of the Jewish state are facing their final destruction

Why real men can't eat quiche

By Viv Groskop

It's the latest trend - behind every dieting woman there's a calorie-counting man

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

The cage that must be rattled

The Politics Column

Politics - Iain Dale has no problem being an openly gay Tory

By Iain Dale

Far from being the preserve of Colonel Blimps, it was the Tory party that stood the most gay and black candidates in the general election

Mark Thomas compares the UK to Kimberley Quinn

By Mark Thomas

Despite the odd murmur about human rights, Britain remains the Kimberley Quinn of torturers and despots in south-east Asia

Darcus Howe questions the meaningof respect

By Darcus Howe

The respect that Blair and the Queen talk about isn't the kind you find on the streets

Competition

Win vouchers to spend at any Tesco store

Culture

Gurning and embroidered knickers

By Rachel Withers

A new exhibition presents a portrait of Britain by placing "alternative" artefacts - white vans, whoopee cushions and Women's Institute textiles - in a fine-art context. It's so very patronising

Stars in his eyes

By Richard Cork

Visual art - Celebrity - it's been around since the days of Joshua Reynolds, finds Richard Cork

Terry-land: nul point

By Tim Luscombe

Song contest - Wogan might laugh, but Eurovision is an important political statement, insists Tim Luscombe

Parlour games

By Michael Glover

Poetry - Michael Glover discusses modernism and interiors with "the greatest living American poet", John Ashbery

Theatre

Michael Portillo - Winning strike

By Michael Portillo

Theatre - Ballet's star boy makes a right song and dance in a class act, writes Michael Portillo Billy Elliot: the musical Victoria Palace Theatre, London SW1

Television