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.

When a Cabinet Minister who is sacked for telling lies is re-appointed, in the face of every constitutional convention, only for the same man to be sacked again from the same Cabinet for the same offence by the same Prime Minister – no wonder the public are cynical about politics.

Well, if you're looking for me to lead a normal representative life, well good luck finding a foreign secretary who'd be like that - totally dependant on the political system and has never earned any money. Then you'll get the politicians you deserve.

If some of the people who write about mojo came with me for a week, they would drop dead on their feet.

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 gave up lots of things I love doing: writing, and business, and playing the piano and so on.

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