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.

There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.

Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.

I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I'd have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands.

There is no satisfaction to be derived from having had many of our arguments borne out by events.

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