I think we can get respect for Parliament back providing governments and oppositions are frank.

Give the Germans five deutschmarks and they will save it. But give the British £5 and they will borrow £25 and spend it.

Well, I think there's a distinction between sexing-up the intelligence and sexing-up the presentation of the intelligence.

Of course there are regrets. I shall regret always that I found my own authentic voice in politics. I was too conservative, too conventional. Too safe, too often. Too defensive. Too reactive. Later, too often on the back foot.

Only in Britain could it be thought a defect to be too clever by half. The probability is that too many people are too stupid by three-quarters.

I would rather go while I am being urged to stay, than to stay beyond the time when I should go.

When your back is against the wall, there is only one thing to do, and that is turn around and fight.