John has been appointed Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, one of the world's leading organisations that monitors abuses of freedom of expression. Go to the Index website for some of the most original, challenging and intelligent writing on the issues. www.indexon censorship.org   BOOK NEWS John is working on a new book on global wealth and its assault on democracy. It is entitled "The Pact: money, freedom and the new world order", and it will be published in 2009, by Simon & Schuster in the UK and by Basic in the US.   BLAIRS'S WARS The critically acclaimed account of the former prime minister's militaristic hubris, has become one of the UK's biggest-selling current affairs books of the decade. Buy direct from Amazon.co.uk     Why Huggy Cameron has performed a vanishing act The Tories have slipped back into their political comfort zone, which is a shame for us and a lost opportunity for them. guardian.co.uk, August 12th 2008 Britain, home of crooks and spivs As he ponders his autumn economic recovery plan.., Gordon Brown should reflect on a simple truth: he has allowed Britain to become the global capital of crooks and spiv. The Daily Telegraph, August 8th 2008 Brown's courage and vision deficit knows no borders Britain's loss of clout is not down to the prime minister alone. But he's done his bit. There's much to repair, Mr Miliband. guardian.co.uk, August 1st 2008 We need Miliband - but with a bit more guts Miliband is the cleverest but he brings a lack of experience and an abundance of Blairite trimming. Evening Standard, July 30th 2008 Can Labour make itself electable now? Even if we ignore the lessons of history regarding a drubbing like Glasgow East, the party's own defeatism and lack of strategy seem insurmountable. guardian.co.uk, July 25th 2008 Purnell's ascent reminds me of a rapid Tory descent Beware the tag "rising star of the party". Shares are being bought in James Purnell, whose ascent appears to be of a speed with Gordon Brown’s decline. The Daily Telegraph, July 24th 2008 Will Labour disappear at the next election? [F]ront- and back-benchers are wondering aloud whether Labour might not just lose the next election, but be wiped off the map. The Daily Telegraph, July 11th 2008 Haunted By 'Courage' A slew of books shine light on the Blair-Brown years. But one of them is particularly telling. Newsweek, July 7th 2008 The new authoritarianism More and more of us are willing to trade freedom for wealth or security. guardian.co.uk, July 1st 2008 Gordon Brown can lay the ground for Labour's next generation Is something extraordinary happening to ministers? Are they, if only in adversity, discovering the joys of candour? The Daily Telegraph, June 27th 2008 Gordon's unhappy anniversary Despite belated appeals to core voters, the polls say that Labour cannot win with Gordon Brown at the helm. guardian.co.uk, June 25th 2008 Lacking the courage of his convictions Gordon Brown does not possess the moral strength to change his mind about 42-day detention. guardian.co.uk, June 5th 2008 They must be mad Hay festival 2008: Two sessions asked an important question: would anyone in their right mind want to be a politician? guardian.co.uk, June 1st 2008 Older articles are archived and can be found in the Periodicals and Newspapers sections.   John has been appointed Chair of the Turner Contemporary Operating Trust, one of the most important current arts projects in the south of England. His appointment to the part-time position comes just as construction of Turner Contemporary, a major £17.4m gallery, is scheduled to begin in Margate, Kent. www.turner contemporary.org   John was Editor of the New Statesman from 2005-2008. During that time, the magazine achieved its highest circulation for 30 years. It won an array of awards. The British Society of Magazine Editors made John its Current Affairs Editor of the Year in 2006.   Media John writes a fortnightly political for the Daily Telegraph which appears on alternate Fridays. His latest broadcast media appearances include: 30th July - BBC News and Sky TV 26th July - BBC Breakfast 27th June - John appeared on Sky News to discuss Gordon Brown's first year 11th June - John appeared on the World Tonight on Radio 4 1st June - John chaired two sessions at the Hay-on-Wye literary festival 15th May - Radio 4's The World at One 5th May - The Today programme 2nd May - BBC World Service 1st May - Sky News election special

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