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

My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.

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

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

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

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

There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.