I have been reading the press more regularly than others over 50 years and it seems to me that there are things that have changed in the press that have changed its character.

The politician who never made a mistake never made a decision.

Well British troops are superb in the field in terms of conflict.

Whatever efforts for peace President Gorbachev had in mind, they were pretty substantially undercut very swiftly by Saddam Hussein.

Recovery begins from the darkest moment.

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.

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.