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

My favourite novel is Frederick Forsythe's Day Of The Jackal, the story about the unproven case of this apparent Englishman who was hired to assassinate De Gaulle….

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

Actually, I think it's quite sensible not to take yourself too seriously.

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

I couldn't imagine a day without music. It relaxes and stimulates me in equal measure and I hate the sound of silence - the concept, I mean, not the track by Simon and Garfunkel.

Paddy Ashdown is the only party leader who's a trained killer. Although, to be fair, Mrs Thatcher was self taught.