People feel that in too many ways the EU is something that is done to them, not something over which they have a say.

The British retreat is over and now the advance will begin.

Governments that use violence to stop democratic development will not earn themselves respite forever. They will pay an increasingly high price for actions which they can no longer hide from the world with ease, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history.

When we have a Deputy Prime Minister who tells people not to drive cars but has two Jags himself, and where the Minister who tells people not to have two homes turns out to have nine himself - no wonder the public believe politicians are hypocrites.

I think the way things have been left after Iraq is that people won't believe the Government of the day, so they have to know that lessons have been learnt and that all political parties and people, whether they were for or against the invasion of Iraq, have learnt lessons.

I'm not, nor is anybody I know in government part of a nasty right wing clique.

Gordon Brown promised to abolish boom and bust. He has kept half his promise.