We cannot possibly take them all into this country [asylum seekers] - it is a completely unrealistic expectation.

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.

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

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

The true use of history, whether civil or military, is not to make man clever for the next time, it is to make him wise forever.

I believe abortion should be available to everyone, but the law should be changed. In the past I voted for a restriction to 22 weeks, and I would be prepared to go down to 20.

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