Yes, you need substance in politics - but I think your style also says something about how you arrive at some of your conclusions.

You won't catch Liberal Democrats describing trade unionists as wreckers.

We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.

I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short

Befriending provides a valuable lifeline to many people who feel isolated in their communities often as a result of ill health or poverty. I would like to thank all those who volunteer as befrienders and I hope that your numbers will increase in coming years. Your kindness and hard work is, I know, very much appreciated by those you help.