Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can balance it only on the wallets of the rich.

What I'm interested in is Britain projecting itself abroad, and through that its values and the things it holds dear. And I don't think you do that by refusing to talk to the world's second-largest economy [China]. In fact, that is positively counter-productive in my view.

I want Britain to be the home of successful competitive and stable financial services.

I was shocked to see that some of the very wealthiest people in the country have organised their tax affairs, and to be fair it's within the tax laws, so that they were regularly paying virtually no income tax. And I don't think that's right.

China is absolutely one of the biggest players in the world and if Britain wants to be connected to the world it has to be connected to China.

You cannot tackle Britain's debts without tackling the unreformed welfare system.

I reject absolutely the idea that people should know their place, and know their class.