The first requirement of politics is not intellect or stamina but patience. Politics is a very long run game and the tortoise will usually beat the hare.

I don't think it's the role of the prime minister to court the press.

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

When I was in office the fundraising was done by the party treasurers.

It is time to return to those core values, time to get back to basics: to self-discipline and respect for the law, to consideration for others, to accepting responsibility for yourself and your family, and not shuffling it off on other people and the state.

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.

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