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

Over the years the political establishment has frowned if a mainstream politician mentions marriage.

We do need to have a little bit more protection and sensibility around pensioners. They are remarkable. They gave so much. We need to make sure we do our best by them.

We do not celebrate people who have made success out of serious hard work.

No I'm not a great believer in getting back over things and saying if only, or if, or buts because I don't think we actually get anywhere on that.

My view is pensioners don't have the one option that people of working age have. They can't really increase their income, because they are no longer able to work.

For families across the UK who are income-poor, but more than that, whose lives are blighted by worklessness, educational failure, family breakdown, problem debt and poor health, as well as other problems, giving them an extra pound - say through increased benefits - will not address the reason they find themselves in difficulty in the first place.