What do you do?
I was the chief executive of a Scottish local authority.
Where do you live?
Peebles, Scottish Borders.
Do you vote?
I am a former returning officer, so yes, of course!
How long have you been a subscriber?
Over many years.
What made you start?
The NS was in my common room at St Andrews, and it spoke to my condition.
Is the NS bug in the family?
No.
What pages do you flick to first?
Leader, then cover feature.
How do you read yours?
By the quiet glow of the marmalade.
What would you like to see more of in the NS?
More women writers; more on devolution.
Who are your favourite NS writers?
Emily Tamkin, John Gray, Stephen Bush, John Burnside.
Who would you put on the cover of the NS?
The leader column?
With which political figure would you least like to be stuck in a lift?
Michael Gove.
All-time favourite NS article?
Peter Townsend on poverty.
The New Statesman is…
A reminder that things can, and will, get better.
This article appears in the 14 Jul 2021 issue of the New Statesman, Apple vs Facebook