Any government, of whatever composition, needs to mobilise opinion way beyond its own ranks in order to do the difficult things that it does.

Nothing will do more damage to the pro-European movement than giving room to the suspicion that we have something to hide, that we do not have the “cojones” to carry our argument to the people.

My head spins. One moment I'm told I'm too edgy, then people say I'm too angry, then that I show too much passion... make your minds up.

The UK is not going to leave the European Union. Of course not. We are inextricably wound up with Europe. In terms of culture, history and geography, we are a European nation.

Politics is a highly tribal business.

Do I get up every morning and ask: am I doing the things that I believe in and am I doing them for the best possible motives? Yes. Unambiguously yes.

You see people literally in a different galaxy who are paying extraordinarily low rates of tax.

What we should be doing in the EU as a whole is more economic integration in the single market, rather than less.

Voters tell politicians what they want through the ballot box. Constantly second-guessing them by speculating whether the parties should gang up on each other misses the point.

I say this as a young dad seeing children going into primary school: I don't think we should underestimate the formative effect on a child of those first years in primary school.

Growth that lasts does not threaten our children's future. It recognises that our planet is a gift that must be cherished. That tomorrow is our responsibility as much as today.

I do my best thinking at night when everyone else is sleeping. No interruptions. No noise. I like the feeling of being awake when no one else is.

Some might tell you there's no hope in hand Just because they feel hopeless But you don't have to be a thing like that You be a ship in a bottle set sail

If I had a choice of educating my daughters or my sons because of opportunity constraints, I would choose to educate my daughters.

When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.

Yes, I get a report from BMI about the frequency of performances, and it is very surprising. They played one of my most advanced pieces, and one of my most unusual ones on the radio.

Kids ought to have two bicycles, one to ride and one to rent.

Imitate time; it destroys everything slowly; it undermines, it wears away, it detaches, it does not wrench.

My life may be a pretty crazy life at times, but its a very privileged one - being able to earn a good living doing what you love. Not many people have such an opportunity.

When you have talked yourself into what you want, right there is the place to stop talking and begin saying it with deeds.

It is nature that is driving us towards perfection, and eventually she will bring everyone there.