I suppose I've always carried what is regarded as a bit of unnecessary baggage in Britain. I've always carried the charge that I am an intellectual in politics.

Hong Kong's people will get what they want, despite China's objections. Freedom invariably wins in the end.

In a democracy everybody has a right to be represented, including the jerks.

It is almost always wrong that the time isn't ripe to decide something. That is always said of difficult problems.

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

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.

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.