I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!

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.

I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!

I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.

For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.

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

I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.