There is no moral difference between a stealth bomber and a suicide bomber. Both kill innocent people for political reasons.

Cabinet members are soon overwhelmed by the insistent demands of running their departments. On the whole, a period in high office consumers intellectual capital; it does not create it....The less ministers know at the outset, the more dependent they are on the only sources of available knowledge; the permanent officials.

Some of the jam we thought was for tomorrow, we've already eaten

It is government policy to phase out subsidies to nationalised industries. In line with this, the government hopes that the coal industry will be able to operate without the need for assistance apart from social grants.

Choice depends on the freedom to choose and if you are shackled with debt you don't have the freedom to choose.

When I think of Cool Britannia I think of old people dying of hypothermia.

I think Mrs Thatcher did more damage to democracy, equality, internationalism, civil liberties, freedom in this country than any other Prime Minister this century. When the euphoria surrounding her departure subsides you will find that in a year or two's time there will not be a Tory who admits ever supporting her. People in the street will say, thank God she's gone