Green politics at its worst amounts to a sort of Zen fascism; less extreme, it denounces growth and seeks to stop the world so that we can all get off.

I think that if politics is just about getting your backside on important seats, then it's a pretty worthless endeavor.

I think that what most surprises anybody who goes into politics from even a modestly cerebral background is the vulgarity of much of the cut and thrust of politics.

Anyone who supposed that when Margaret Thatcher left Number Ten she was going to take a Trappist vow did not know that formidable politician.

It is curious that atheists have proved to be so intolerant of those who have a faith.

There is a sort of exotic preposterousness about a lot of elections, the way arguments are made even cruder.

It is a sort of great Victorian truth that actually, trying to do the right thing is pretty good for you and pretty good for business as well, by and large.