04 September 2006

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

Features

The return of people power

By John Pilger

Here in the west, we have much to learn from resistance movements in dangerous places and their tactics of informed direct action

Labour's fault lines open up

By Charles Clarke

As the political season opens and a Conservative revival gathers pace, former Home Secretary Charles Clarke offers heartfelt advice to the leadership. Resist the quick fix, face your demons and concentrate on policies . . . or risk alienating crucial supporters

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

Once firmly in power, Tory governments are built to last

Diary

A fascist's guide to the Premiership

By J G Ballard

The notion of being British has never been so devalued. Sport alone seems able to be the catalyst of significant social change. Could consumerism evolve into fascism?

Politics

Gambling away Labour's principles

By Martin Bright

The understanding among Blair's allies is that he intends to announce his plans well in advance of conference, in days or weeks

Commons Confidential

Tight trousers

By Kevin Maguire

This England

Each printed entry will receive a £5 book token
Entries on a POSTCARD, please, to This England, NS, address at www.newstatesman.com/contactus.htm

History mystery No 3944

Set by Didier D'Argent
So . . . 5 per cent of us think The Domesday Book was a novel by Dan Brown. We asked for an extract. If you felt like being more literary, we offered you the book as written by Umberto Eco

Arts & Culture

Cuba: an artist's view

By Norge Espinosa Mendoza

Independent spirit

By Daniel Trilling

The cult record shop Rough Trade's influence continues in the age of the download

Theatre

Cold sweat beneath the smiles

By Rosie Millard

Tricky Dicky and Frosty face off in the 1970s' most riveting battle of wits
Frost/Nixon
Donmar Warehouse, London WC1

Film

Please, Michael Douglas, act your age

By Ryan Gilbey

Ageing star makes unconvincing action hero in this thriller
The Sentinel (12A) dir: Clark Johnson

Television

Google, the horseman of the TV apocalypse

By Andrew Billen

The small screen is under threat from online viewing - and warring executives
The MediaGuardian International TV Festival
Edinburgh

Radio

Two anniversaries - one great documentary

By Rachel Cooke

A N Wilson exposes the less cuddly side of John Betjeman

Travels

Sketches of Spain

By Yasmin Alibhai-Brown

In Andalucia's Moorish towns, there is hope for the future of Islam in Europe

Books

The poet of the provinces

By Andrew Martin

John Betjeman is often thought of as a bit of a fogey, but
his work was piercingly prescient. Andrew Martin looks back at the man who helped inspire him as a writer

Power to the people

By Kenneth Cukier

The Wealth of Networks: how social production transforms markets and freedom
Yochai Benkler Yale University Press, 512pp, £25
ISBN 0300110561

Mystery fever

By Margaret Cook

China Syndrome: the true story of the 21st century's first great epidemic
Karl Taro Greenfeld Penguin, 464pp, £8.99
ISBN 0141027533

Lost in the city

By Andrew Holgate

Sacred Games
Vikram Chandra Faber & Faber, 915pp, £17.99
ISBN 0571231187

Keeping the faith

By Peter Bradshaw

Be Near Me
Andrew O'Hagan Faber & Faber, 278pp, £16.99
ISBN 0571216021
John Betjeman is often thought of as a bit of a fogey, but his work was piercingly prescient. Andrew Martin looks back at the man who helped inspire him as a writer