At home and abroad I have repeatedly been asked what are the main essentials of a successful prime minister. Over and above communication and vigilance, there are two factors I have always mentioned. They are sleep, and a sense of history.

If I had the choice between smoked salmon and tinned salmon, I'd have it tinned. With vinegar.

The ambition of the present Labour government is that every worker in the country will have a greater than average income.

The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing.

All these financiers, all the little gnomes of Zürich and the other financial centres, about whom we keep on hearing.

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

I'm an optimist, but I'm an optimist who takes his raincoat.