Let us be clear. Prison works. It ensures that we are protected from murderers, muggers and rapists, and it makes many who are tempted to commit crime think twice.

There is only one opinion poll that I am interested in and that is the one that will take place on election day.

I am happy to debate the past with the Prime Minister... I have a big dossier on his past, and I did not even have to sex it up.

So long as the international community consists of sovereign states, war between them remains a possibility, of which all governments have to take reasonable account.

We're not saying, 'We're politicians, trust us.' We know you don't trust us.

History is what we read, write and think about the past.

A common language is the most obvious binding element in any society.