I do think there is a great deal of caricature around the House of Commons. It is just that kind of place.

Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.

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

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.

I believe that access to a university education should be based on the ability to learn, not what people can afford. I think there is no more nauseating a sight than politicians pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them.

We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.