Someone once claimed I was not really a Yorkshireman!

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.

We are making progress militarily, there is no doubt about that. You've seen the reports from Misrata, although reports of the Gaddafi forces completely pulling out of Misrata seem to be exaggerated.

I have always thought that foreign-policy idealism has to be tempered with realism.

I don't deny that there are problems in the intelligence world, but I would argue that in the UK we try to uphold the highest standards in the world.

I have found that I get a better reaction from people once I am less bothered about their reaction.

You do have to do business with and to try to influence people you don't agree with, or find disagreeable, so it's important to stress that balance.