I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.

Recovery begins from the darkest moment.

I inherited a sick economy and passed on a sound one. But one abiding regret for me is that, in between, I did not have the resources to put in place the educational and social changes about which I cared to much; I made only a beginning, and it was not enough.

I'm very proud of what my parents achieved and what they stood for. They didn't have much, but in many ways they were richer than most.

If you look at things that really affect people's lives - sport, the arts, charities - they were always at the back of the queue for government money - health, social security, defence, pensions were all way ahead. And each of those areas - sports, the arts, the lottery - got relatively petty cash from the government.

Too many people looked to me in the eye and did not tell me the truth.

I'm not about to write my memoirs. Not for a long time.