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.

A generous basic state pension is the least a civilized society should offer those who have worked hard and saved through their whole lives.

Put on top of that the fact that the whole world is looking at Britain and saying how is this country going to pay its way in the future. They are looking at other countries like Greece who can't pay their way in the future and you see savage spending cuts, big cuts in pay.

Autism is a very serious condition.

There are those people who don't want change. Well there needs to be a coalition for change amongst the hard-working mainstream majority of the country to crack on and sort out Britain's problems.

I understand the damage the expenses crisis has done to Parliament, and the paramount importance of restoring trust in our politics.

If we don't get a grip on government spending, there will be no growth.