There's something inherently comic about the fact that politicians make things worse by worrying too much about something.

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 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.

Listening to classical music is a journey not a state; it's an activity not a meditation.

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

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

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.