New Statesman editor Kampfner steps down after 'row'

by Staff, Brand Republic 14-Feb-08, 10:30

LONDON - John Kampfner, the editor of left-wing weekly New Statesman, has left the magazine with immediate effect after a row over investment with the owner, the Labour MP Geoffrey Robinson.

Kampfner edited yesterday's issue before sending a writing a message to staff, thanking them for their efforts and departing after three years at the magazine.

In his message to staff, he said that ambitions for the magazine could not be put into practice because of budgetary issues and that the magazine could prosper under the right conditions.

Kampfner wrote: "This has been a memorable period for the New Statesman and I am pleased to have played my part. I would like to pay tribute to a remarkable editorial staff, which contains some of the most talented and assiduous journalists in the UK.

"It has been a privilege to work with them and to have shared the same ambitions with them for the magazine. I am confident that in the right circumstances, the New Statesman will prosper in the future."

Kampfner is thought to have argued with Robinson, the former Paymaster General who was forced to resign in 1998, over investment in the title. According to reports, the editor sought external investors.

His departure comes ahead of today's ABC figures, which are expected to show a sharp drop in newsstand sales. Its last ABC was 29,041, which was up 13.9% year on year. That circulation rise followed a relaunch of the title in June 2006.

However, since then multimillionaire Robinson has withheld fresh investment.

One source told The Independent: "John won the awards but not enough readers for Geoffrey's liking. Geoffrey wants a much lower-key operation that runs a tidy profit."

Kampfner took over editing the title three years ago from Peter Wilby. He is being succeeded in the interim by the magazine's deputy editor Sue Matthias, formerly of The Independent on Sunday.

A spokeswoman for the New Statesman denied reports that Kampfner had been sacked following his disagreement with Robinson, despite his hasty departure.