The appalling crackdown that we witnessed in Hama and other Syrian cities on 30 and 31 July only erode the regime's legitimacy and increase resentment. In the absence of an end to the senseless violence and a genuine process of political reform, we will continue to pursue further EU sanctions.

To the hard-working people who set a little bit aside each month, to provide for their children, or to fund their own retirement, I say: you should be rewarded not punished.

Not all politicians are bonkers, but most of them are.

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

When you reduce taxes on higher earners it's vital to be reducing them on lower earning people as well so the nation shares in the approach.

I know people are fickle.

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