All too often, government's response to social breakdown has been a classic case of 'patching' - a case of handing money out, containing problems and limiting the damage but, in doing so, supporting - even reinforcing - dysfunctional behaviour.

Aspiration, it seems, is in danger of becoming the preserve of the wealthy.

After years of piecemeal reform the current welfare system is complex and unfair.

Well football teams are perhaps easier to control than political parties, I'm sure the Prime Minister would agree with me, but yeah I think every team needs discipline and a sense of self-belief and that's important, that's what leadership's all about.

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.

Too many couples break up without understanding the consequences for their families.

You cannot stop what the public want. The public want two strong women in the final round and then a woman prime minister and I'm absolutely with that.