Gerry Brakus

Before Syria, I saw John Cantlie's drive for danger @gerrylb #Echobox=1772886027" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newstatesman.com/culture/art-de…

Paul Conroy knew the importance of bearing witness The war photographer has died aged 61 By @gerrylb newstatesman.com/appreciation/2…

How the Epstein story sidelines women This is not about women failing to protect themselves; it is about power finding ways to neutralise them By @gerrylb #Echobox=1770804766" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newstatesman.com/politics/2026/…

My small thanks to Andreas Whittam Smith The founding editor of The Independent has died aged 88 @gerrylb #Echobox=1764669150" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newstatesman.com/appreciation/2…

@willydunn So good

If you're a big-shot TV producer and would like this written up as this generation's West Wing, let me know

STATE OF EMERGENCY: @AndrewMarr9 on the crises Keir Starmer can’t afford What have we learned from 12 days of war in the Middle East? Britain has no agency. British diplomacy is irrelevant. British social democracy is so fragile that one shock could finish it off in our lifetimes. If Keir Starmer’s problems were confined to conflicts abroad that he has no real influence over, that would be bad enough. But the trouble is: this war is happening as the government loses authority in the country and in parliament. Something serious has gone wrong in the relationship between Downing Street and the Labour Party in parliament. Such is the scale of discontent on the Labour benches that Liz Kendall’s bill may be postponed or even lost entirely. To think, after barely a year of this government, the authority of the prime minister and the chancellor is being directly threatened. Natural supporters of Starmer are asking whether there is a private room in Number 10 in which any genuine political conversation is taking place. They are beginning to conclude that such a room doesn’t exist.

In one sense, Keir Starmer has come to power at just the right moment. The country that he governs is one that feels traumatised by events. Britain is coming to terms with almost two decades of failure. Yet, Starmer finds it difficult to articulate this feeling, to capture the mood of the nation in its raw reality, much as he finds it hard to explain his emotions. The words he has to find inside himself must reach millions, must drag them along with him. He must understand the national trauma and its causes, to connect with emotion and anger. Yet he seems reluctant to poke at the reasons the country is so tense and angry and poor, to analyse the cause of the country’s malaise.

This hugely important and brilliant issue is the last for the NS by the eternally fantastic @Tom_Gatti. Wishing him all the luck at The Observer. He will be so missed

The Face Magazine: Culture Shift invites you into the cool club 🖼️ @gerrylb on photography #Echobox=1740132267-1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newstatesman.com/culture/art-de…

I was lucky to have worked in the same newsroom as Kim for many years. He was humble and so calm for someone who faced shocking scenes of war so regularly. I was a little in awe of his bravery. What a loss. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

I was lucky to have worked in the same newsroom as Kim for many years. He was humble and so calm for someone who faced shocking scenes of war so regularly. I was a little in awe of his bravery. What a loss. independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-n…

This means a lot. I always put a lot of thought into it, but especially when what we’re covering is so sensitive and important

His last interview, with Kate Mossman, illustrated by Ryan McAmis. RIP Parky

Great piece on Simone Weil in this week’s @NewStatesman, beautifully illustrated by Carlo Giamberresi newstatesman.com/ideas/2023/07/…

This year’s Prix Pictet shortlist and its theme, ‘Human’ is a particularly strong one. You can read more about it here; newstatesman.com/culture/art-de…

Nice one trooper @KevinJRawlinson

@RMCunliffe Hope you’re ok Rachel. Sending Rudy x

So something fairly significant in my life fell apart this afternoon. In the grand scheme of things it'll all be okay in the end, I know. But for now, please send cats.

@JonnElledge I’m so sorry Jonn. My thoughts are with you x

Agnes Mary Frimston, the love of my life, died Friday night aged just 35. We don't yet know why. She was the kindest, funniest, most beautiful and all round best person I have ever known, and she was adored by pretty much everyone who ever met her. I loved her so, so much.

@chrisfloyduk That made me lol

Surely I’m not the only person unsurprised by Diane Abbott’s letter?