I opposed the Suez war, I opposed the Falklands war. I opposed the Libyan bombing and I opposed the Gulf war and I never believed that any of those principled arguments lost a single vote - indeed, I think they gained support though that was not why you did it. What has been lacking in Labour politics over a long period is a principled stand

The quickest way to get to the top in society probably is to be a Blair Babe now. And then all of a sudden you find you're invited to parties. I don't want to be cynical, because I'm not. But I've seen it happen to so many people who move from the left to the right so damn quickly.

The people who have sacrificed their view in order to get to the top have very often left no footprints in the sands of time.

I think if you do have democracy it would transform the world because if the millions of people who die live on a dollar a day, had the vote, they would redistribute the wealth of the world, and the people at the top are not prepared to see that happen.

I think to understand how the democratic process works is the most important thing, so people don't get frightened by it, and get put off, and give up.

Through talk, we tamed kings, restrained tyrants, averted revolution

If you want your debt lifted you've got to sell your school and your hospitals.