I couldn't imagine a day without music. It relaxes and stimulates me in equal measure and I hate the sound of silence - the concept, I mean, not the track by Simon and Garfunkel.

I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.

I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short

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'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

The one thing we can all be sure about in politics is you are as well to expect the unexpected.

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