Spring Double Issue

To view this email as a web page, go [here.]( [Languages Direct]( [new-statesman]( [ns nl v3]( As spring begins, politics is taking an increasingly surreal turn. The government has been forced to deny that it's heading for war with Spain, Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have been rowing about Easter eggs and Ken Livingstone is still talking about Hitler. In our spring double issue, John Bew explains why, though armies won't clash over Gibraltar, "the balance of power" is back in European affairs. Elsewhere, Helen Lewis explores what she describes as the silence about austerity and Mehdi Hasan challenges the myth of Donald Trump the dove. Political leaders are notably older than in the Blair-Cameron era and longevity is a theme running through the issue. Xan Rice discusses the "100 year life" and talks to "super ager" athletes who are changing perceptions of what it means to be old. Michael Bond, the creator of Paddington Bear, talks about his daily writing routine at the age of 91, and John Gray writes about the Silicon Valley gurus obsessed with dreams of immortality. Elsewhere in the magazine, Lawrence Freedman, who co-wrote Tony Blair's famous Chicago speech, asks when it is just to go to war, Mary Beard explores the blood-soaked politics of Imperial Rome, Kate Mossman meets the Kinks frontman Ray Davies and Ed Smith reveals how dating apps have improved the performance of sports teams on the road. All this, plus the A-Z of Brexit, Rowan Williams on the purpose of universities and a new short story from Lionel Shriver about Donald Trump. Do also visit [Newstatesman.com]( for more reports, comment and political and geopolitical analysis, including Shiraz Maher on the horrific sarin "gas attack" on civilians in Idlib province, Syria. Best wishes for Easter - and do please consider subscribing to the [New Statesman]( Enjoy! Jason Cowley, [@JasonCowleyNS]( Editor's Picks --------------------------------------------------------------- [Our Leader: the 100-year- life] [Our Leader: the 100-year- life]( As life expectancy soars, what should our government do to ensure that Britain's ageing process is graceful and not grim? [Michael Bond, 91, on Paddington: ] [Michael Bond, 91, on Paddington: "you feel you can talk to a bear"]( The creator of the marmalade-loving bear on rudeness, refugees - and working seven days a week, even at Christmas. [Mehdi Hasan: Donald Trump is no dove] [Mehdi Hasan: Donald Trump is no dove]( Three months into Trump's presidency, our contributing writer takes stock of the myth that he would be a peaceful president. [Tracey Thorn on how her parents met] [Tracey Thorn on how her parents met]( A family story that starts with a letter and a photograph - and ends with Twitter. [The ] [The "balance of power" is back]( John Bew on the Gibraltar row and the return of the European "balance of power" question. [New Statesman Subscribe Now]( [www.NewStatesman.com]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [American in Paris]( [Exclusive: Conservative poll showed party would ] [Exclusive: Conservative poll showed party would "lose seats" to the Liberal Democrats]( Election strategist Lynton Crosby warned the party would lose MPs to the Lib Dems in an early election, sources tell George Eaton. [S-Town: the mystery at the heart of this cult podcast is not the one you think] [S-Town: the mystery at the heart of this cult podcast is not the one you think]( Jonn Elledge on the wonderfully strange and totally unnerving story of John B.McLemore. [Click here for more information]( [podcast]( [Facebook]( [Google Plus]( [Twitter]( [Tumblr]( © copyright 2016 New Statesman LTD. John Carpenter House, 7 Carmelite Street, Blackfriars, EC4Y 0AN, United Kingdom. To stop receiving news and offers from the New Statesman, please [click here](.