11 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

Cover story

Blair crisis: It's already over

Labour MPs are split, not on the principle of forcing out Tony Blair, but on the method. Our political editor, Martin Bright, reveals the inside story of a plot that is now out of control

By Martin Bright

Features

Absent friends

By Lindsey Hilsum

Arguments over the war in Iraq have ignored the plight of the people themselves. As she says farewell to the country, Lindsey Hilsum tells the harrowing story of Mohammed Fatnan, who supported the invasion, only to be swallowed up by it

Meet the No Planers

By Brendan O'Neill

They believe there weren't any planes on 9/11, just missiles wrapped in holograms - and there weren't any London terrorists on 7/7 either. The new-wave conspiracy theorists aren't green-ink types: they're educated; they have secret service connections; they live in Highgate. By Brendan O'Neill

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Bush faces the people

By Andrew Stephen

The day of reckoning looms for George W Bush. On 7 November, Americans will flock to the polls for the midterm elections and deliver their verdict on his record. Many now view him as one of the worst presidents in history

Regulars

New Statesman Leader

How Blair can spare himself humiliation and go with dignity

It's the manner of the transition that counts

Commons Confidential

They never drink

By Kevin Maguire

Body parts No 3945

Set by Hank T Romein We've all heard of tennis elbow and housemaid's knee. We asked you to name and detail some other complaints

Culture

The revolution will not be televised

By John Pilger

As he launches a season of his films, John Pilger argues that, in the age of Big Brother, television is no longer nurturing challenging documentary-makers

Dancing in the dark

By Sarah Frater

Both eastern and western, classical and contemporary. Sarah Frater profiles Akram Khan, a dancer for our times

Theatre

Saved by the golden codpiece

By Rosie Millard

A dull production is enlivened only by a line-up of strapping male physiques Troilus and Cressida Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

Film

More than just sweetness and light

By Ryan Gilbey

A screwball comedy is a candid portrayal of low-income America Little Miss Sunshine (15) dirs: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris

Television

A beginner's guide to "It" girls

By Killian Fox

Peaches Geldof is too self-obsessed to get under the skin of the Middle East The Beginner's Guide to Islam Channel 4

Radio

I've had livelier chats with a trouser press

By Rachel Cooke

Frostie's doddery guests don't make for riveting listening

Books

A wicked way with words

By Henry Hitchings

Histories of our language used to focus on "standard English". Now, writes Henry Hitchings, they are as likely to draw on rap and advertising as on Keats and Milton