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

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

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.

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.

My idealism has not abated, but I have witnessed it withering away nationwide, to the point where at least among the young, to have ideals is akin to being blinkered and oldfashioned.

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