I don't work hard enough. If I had worked harder I might have been prime minister.

I've got people handling the media. I employ at the moment two people. No-one is paying income tax on the money they use to employ people.

I mean I get loads of money, all from different sources. You give it to your accountant. They manage it. But you pay corporation tax. If you're then taking it out and spending it on yourself, you have to pay more.

When I was leader of the GLC, by the time I had been in control for three years, the difference in pay between the cleaner and the director general was a four-to-one ratio. I find that attractive.

Every budget I have ever prepared has been balanced.

I would like to sound like James Mason. I reckon if I'd had a better voice I could have been prime minister. It is the most irritating voice in public life.

I'm never going to take the view that I should say whatever I need to say in order to achieve something. Because that implies a level of dishonesty.