Unless there is meaningful change in Syria and an end to the crackdown, President Assad and those around him will find themselves isolated internationally and discredited within Syria.

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.

The EU should be concentrated on adapting to globalisation and global competitiveness, not building more powerful centralised institutions in Brussels.

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

One day I will go back to my books and piano, but not yet.

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.

We have to face the reality of climate change. It is arguably the biggest threat we are facing today.