To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.

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.

I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.

Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.

My health is good and it's up to me to keep it that way.

I can hardly think of an occasion when I've got into a stand-up fight with any political opponent. I've got my views, people know what they are, they can agree or they can choose to disagree. I'm not going to waste time just rubbishing everybody else.

I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'