June 27, 2018

The New European publishes 100th issue after starting as ‘pop-up’ paper only planned for four-week run

It was a spur of the moment creation in the wake of a referendum result that split Britain in two and was only planned for a four-week run, but The New European has now published its 100^th issue.

The paper, owned by Archant and created by the regional publisher’s chief content officer Matt Kelly, also its editor, was described as a “pop-up newspaper” when it launched on July 8 2016.

The launch came just two weeks after Britain had voted to leave the European Union, with the title declaring itself “the new pop-up paper for the 48 per cent” of Remain voters under the masthead.

Since then its statement front pages – all of which are collected in its latest and 100^th edition – have become a hallmark of the brand under former Mirror man Kelly.

The New European’s 100 front pages

At a party celebrating the milestone last week, Kelly said TNE had nearly 8,000 subscribers with a low churn rate. The weekly title sells at a cover price of £2.50.

Editor-at-large Alistair Campbell, former spin doctor to Number 10 under Tony Blair, told the gathering that “once I get past the spread [in the paper] I struggle with it because it is such a quality newspaper”.

He was said to have contacted Kelly about the publication and supported it when told its cause was putting a stop to Brexit.

Writing in the paper’s 100^th edition, Kelly said: “We’ve never tried to be a newspaper in the traditional sense of the word.

“Though we insist on accuracy and strive to provide an entertaining and enlightening package of content each week, we’ve never really tried to cover the week’s news in a through way.

“Instead we prefer to think we are giving a voice to the eclectic arguments, insight and analysis, across a vast spectrum of topics that keep alive the idea that Brexit should, and can, be stopped.

“That is our unequivocal manifesto. In so many ways, we wish this newspaper never had cause to exist. But in the circumstances, we are very glad it does.”

The New European’s only full-time staff member is deputy editor Jasper Copping. Its roster of contributors have included journalist Jonathan Freedland, playwright Bonnie Greer, former Times night editor Liz Gerard and writer A C Grayling.