Encouragement is the most important thing in the world for young people, rather than league tables, which demoralise everyone.

I don't want to commit myself in advocating a definite republican constitution which will get bogged down with the question of who would elect the President and when.

There may be a legal obligation to obey, but there will be no moral obligation to obey. When it comes to history, it will be the people who broke the law for freedom who will be remembered and honoured.

If I rescued a child from drowning, the press would no doubt headline the story: 'Benn grabs child

My alternative to American superpower is the UN and I might add when China becomes the worlds greatest superpower you will need it too.

It is not surprising that more and more people are coming to the conclusion that the ballot box is no longer an instrument that will secure political solutions... They can see that the parliamentary democracy we boast of is becoming a sham.

I am not a reluctant peer but a persistent commoner