What we want to do is reform the welfare system in the way that Tony Blair talked about 13 years ago but never achieved - a system that was created for the days after the Second World War. That prize is now I think achievable.

I am an optimist about the UK. We have been involved in trade with our European partners, which we will always be doing whatever this relationship is. We are a member of the EU. That gives us benefits. But we have to figure out where that is going. In the world, we are a global trader already.

I think that the status that you have in life should be reflected in official documents. If you are married, fine, if you are living with someone, fine, if you are single, fine. We don't want to tell people how to live their lives.

I think almost every political leader is always told that the next speech they make is the most crucial one.

I am not going to go round trying to make people say 'Wow!'... I'm not going to play Hollywood lookalikes.

The public thinks that homelessness is about not having any accommodation to go to.

Kids are meant to believe that their stepping stone to massive money is 'The X Factor.'