Remember, imperialism is always presented as humanitarian: the white man's burden, the cross going round the world, the poor benighted natives, the sun never sets. . . So you have to be very careful about humanitarianism.

Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure.

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

Parliamentary democracy is, in truth, little more than a means of securing a periodical change in the management team, which is then allowed to preside over a system that remains in essence intact. If the British people were ever to ask themselves what power they truly enjoyed under our political system they would be amazed to discover how little it is

She believes in something. It is an old-fashioned idea

I think very often the boat-rockers turn out to be the people who are building the craft

The Labour party has never been a socialist party, although there have always been socialists in it - a bit like Christians in the Church of England.