30 June 2008
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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
Cover story
Thou shalt not hug
British society no longer trusts grown-ups to interact with children. In a controversial new report, Frank Furedi and Jennie Bristow argue that the culture of "vetting" adults is damaging relationships between the generations
Features
Don't write off Mr Bean
Brown has made blunders and suffered bad luck. But if he can show clarity and conviction, the next election could still be competitive
How can Brown turn things round?
Six influential politicians and thinkers assess the Prime Minister's chances
Who can you trust?
Politicians frequently agonise over whether voters find them trustworthy. But the more important question for a society may be whether its citizens believe others will treat them fairly
The handbag of God
When homeless people seem lazy, sleep seems a waste of time and sex even more so, you're ready to play Margaret Thatcher. Andrea Riseborough on becoming the young Iron Lady
Doing the job right
Bob Barrett's Beef Kitchen amazed the judges at the New Statesman/ Edge Upstarts Awards for social enterprise
Taking the office with you
Gadgets designed to improve working life are making it inescapable
Essay
Cameronism
The Tory leader has done a brilliant job rebranding the "nasty party", but he has yet to come up with a coherent political philosophy - or anything especially new. Richard Reeves on the continuing Conservative makeover
Regulars
The Politics Column
Mr Brown's long year
One survey suggests that "Real New Labour", an eminently moderate group, could well become the dominant faction
The secret of my success No 4033
It appears from Cherie's memoirs that Tony Blair "has spoken to Gordon about how he could win [the next election]. Tony has given Gordon advice. He and Gordon talk to each other even now." Whatever he said, it doesn't seem to be working. We asked for examples of that advice - of a less than helpful nature
Culture
Writing on the wall
Cy Twombly has been described as a graffiti artist, but that is to belittle his intuitive exploration of intellectual and emotional experience
Performance
Scares in the community
Stars of the stage line up to portray a town gripped by paedophile hysteria 2,000 Feet Away Bush Theatre, London W12
Film
A less than fantastic voyage
Devoid of tension, Narnia is a much duller place the second time around The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (PG) dir: Andrew Adamson
Television
I just can't get you out of my head
For some reason, I keep imagining Jeremy Clarkson in his underpants Top Gear BBC2
Books
The line of beauty
In a brilliant and accessible study, Gert-Rudolf Flick unveils a succession of 18 artists - masters and pupils, stretching over five centuries from Perugino to Manet, by way of Raphael and David. Brian Sewell applauds a fascinating account of the how and what, the when and why of art
The hopeful traveller
Semi-Invisible Man: the Life of Norman Lewis Julian Evans Jonathan Cape, 792pp, £25
A bigger splash
Wild Swim: River, Lake, Lido and Sea - the Best Places to Swim Outdoors in Britain Kate Rew Guardian Books, 208pp, £16.99
Country melodramas
The Temple of the Wild Geese and Bamboo Dolls of Echizen Tsutomu Mizukami, translated by Dennis Washburn Dalkey Archive Press, 208pp, £14.99
Observations
Nation versus state
This is a fight not between secularism and Islamism in Turkey, but between old and new power elites, between nationalism and democracy
Banning Khat
An overdue reform of drugs policy or another draconian attack on our civil liberties? Hugh Barnes reflects on the Tory proposal
Virtual blues
The online revolution is the most recent step in the development of counselling, an initiative that started with post-war couples looking to save a marriage in crisis
