I have never once been persuaded as to the causal link between the Iraqi regime, al-Qaeda and September 11. I do believe the impact of war under these circumstances is bound to weaken the international coalition against terrorism itself.

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.

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

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

Further Education should be about the ability to learn, not the ability to pay - everyone who is able should have the opportunity, regardless of their family background. I don't want to see students struggling with huge debts or frightened off even going to university in the first place.

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