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.

You've had an extremely weak euro on the foreign exchange markets, you've had a very dubious policy being followed.

UN goodwill may be a bottomless pit but it's by no means limitless.

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.

Neil Kinnock's speeches go on for so long because he has nothing to say and so he has no way of knowing when he's finished saying it.

When our backs are against the wall, we must turn around and march forward.