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

For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.

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

I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.

There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.

I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!