I don't think at my age... you can start ruling people out in politics.

It would be immoral to walk away from the consequences of our actions, leaving behind anarchy and civil war in Iraq.

Of course I'd have loved to be Prime Minister. But I'm not nursing a grievance.

I look forward to the day when the Westminster Parliament is just a council chamber in Europe

With the greatest respect, we do not make the criminal law on the basis of opinion polls. A majority of 9:1 could be in favour of a ban in my constituency, but I would not regard that as conclusive, and I hope that we never would. If we start having opinion polls about all the unpleasant and distasteful habits and customs of some members of society, and suggesting that their findings should be made part of the criminal law, foxhunting would come way down the list, and quite a lot of strange enactments would have to go through the House.

I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as a party you do have to face up to some painful facts and you do have to change.

However, we do not lack anti-terrorist laws. I do not believe that the recent London bombs were the result of any deficiencies in our legal system.