Chris Addison on politics and the media | Jon Cruddas: time for an English Labour Party | Will Self on Steig Larsson

Weekly Online Newsletter 29 July 2010 Home Editor's Choice Features Regulars Arts & Books Blogs Subscribe   Editor's Choice IN THIS WEEK'S NEW STATESMAN... This week's New Statesman is a special issue devoted to politics and comedy. In our lead essay, Chris Addison, one of the stars of The Thick of It, accuses the news media of trivialising politics and says Nick Robinson and co should leave the jokes to the comedians. Elsewhere, to accompany our retrospective of political cartoons, Dominic Sandbrook explains why satire remains the one kind of hate speech that every society needs. Also don't miss our interview with the self-styled New Statesman himself, Alan B'Stard. In politics, Mehdi Hasan explores why both the left and the right are attacking Ed Miliband as a far-left "Bennite", James Macintyre interviews the new International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell and Jon Cruddas argues that its time for England to have its own national Labour Party. All this plus Will Self on the psychic cult of Steig Larsson, a new short story by Julie Myerson and comedian Mark Watson's preview of the Edinburgh Festival. The issue is on sale now, or you can subscribe through the website. The five most read blogs: General Petraeus's leaked emails about Israel Ryan Mehdi Hasan What exactly did the Bank of England Governor tell Nick Clegg during the coalition talks? James Macintyre Vicar of Rome: gays must come out and get out Caroline Crampton Gilbey on Film: casting Kurt Cobain Ryan Gilbey Labour must not go soft on plans for electoral reform George Eaton Features Leader: Afghanistan, war crimes and the agony of a futile conflict Charity must not stop at home James Macintyre The International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, defends the decision to ring-fence overseas aid. Weekly Briefing Regulars Edinburgh, egos and King Lear Mark Watson's hairy experience of life as a stand-up on the Edinburgh Fringe. Arts & Culture Gainsbourg (15) By Ryan Gilbey Gallic charm meets an imaginative twist on the biopic. Edinburgh preview Our critics' picks of the festival.     This Week's Issue Kindly note that if you receive this e-mail your e-mail address is being held by us for the purpose of communicating with you on New Statesman related matters. If you do not wish us to e-mail you, please unsubscribe from this list. New Statesman Limited is a Data Controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. © New Statesman Ltd. 2009. The above information may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient of this email please destroy it. As Internet communications are not secure please note that the New Statesman does not accept legal responsibility for the content of this email message.