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

I am certainly not a blogger. Quite a large proportion of them are nuts and extremists - with the honourable exception of the culture secretary.

The political health of Britain has deteriorated very sharply. The Conservative Party must do something about it. I am the man to do it.

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

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 have acquired a deep and abiding respect for all those engaged in the difficult business of commerce.

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