No one should be held back from realising their potential by fears that they will not be able to afford to go to university or that they will graduate with unmanageable levels of debt.

We are entering an era in which national government, instead of directing, enables powerful regional and local initiatives to work, where Britain becomes as it should be - a Britain of nations and regions.

The vision of personalised public services - meeting the individual needs of all our citizens - requires continuing reform in the way services are delivered

I believe there is a moral sense and a global ethic that commands attention from people of every religion and every faith, and people of no faith. But I think what's new is that we now have the capacity to communicate instantaneously across frontiers right across the world.

Tony Blair is the best friend I've had in politics.

Britain can be proud of its response to the tsunami appeal.

I think that's a bit unfair. I'm a father with a 2-year-old child and I feel pretty young, actually.