A tax cut to compensate for a tax increase is not a cut - it's a con.

I would not want to see any relaxation of the law prohibiting human cloning.

I think that the best things that governments can do for productivity is not whack on new taxes and, if we can get institutions like schools and hospitals functioning better, well that's obviously good for the overall productiveness of our society.

Oppositions are not there to get legislation through. Oppositions are there to hold the government to account.

Mates help each other; they do not tax each other.

I do not regard myself as a Christian politician. I regard myself as a politician who just happens to think religion matters. I would be appalled, absolutely appalled, to think religion drove anyone's politics in a secular democracy like ours.

I feel a little uncomfortable at being asked the sorts of questions that other Catholics in public life tend not to be asked.