It almost seems like anyone who doesn't seem political in any way is at an advantage. It's almost like anti-politics. A stage where anyone who acts - and it is an act - as if they have nothing to do with the way that daily politics works is lauded as some kind of superstar human being.

I kind of like that thing of you being caught up. You think you can judge someone, and before you know it, you've been swayed by them, and actually you want more of them.

It's still very relevant to how politics works within government, but in terms of the way into politics for an outsider, no, I don't think that would work. I don't know what would, other than... people are going online, and finding the single issue topics. I mean, look at the junior doctors' strike at the moment, or benefit cuts. That sort of cut across parties, and real pressure was felt in the government from inside and out.

The busier you are, the less time you have to make decisions.

I always think you've just got to move on. If you keep wallowing in the thing that you've done for a while you get a bit stale.

Death is a fickle hen, and random are her eggs.

I'm a bit of a political geek anyway, so you tend to write how you think the rhythms of an administration will go.