It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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….