I'm honoured to have been selected to be the Labour candidate for Manchester Central.

People rightly want our political leaders - on all sides - to concentrate on minimising the damage to jobs, living standards and our savings from the banking crisis.

At times unpopular measures are needed in order to change behaviour.

Like many of my friends and colleagues, I can't get enough of Obama news; latest polling, speeches, visits, reaction of world leaders.

There's a loss of faith in the banking system that for so long has been the backbone of prosperity and growth.

Funding for sports (and the arts) are often the first things facing the chop in difficult times.

In politics, the number of women in the cabinet has fallen and, if current poll trends continue and Labour loses a number of marginal seats, the number of female MPs is likely to drop significantly.

Indeed, when all parties campaign effectively the overall effect is to push up voting rates, as you see in tight marginal seats or close general elections. That must be good for democracy.

Today the demands are for even higher standards in the quality of care, for greater flexibility and convenience in treatment times, and for more prevention through screening and health checks.

At its most basic the democratic contract is a simple one: the right to vote comes with a responsibility to society, through tax payments and citizenship.

Sixteen- and 17-year-olds pay taxes and can join the army, so surely they should in turn be given their right to vote.

Using someone else's kitchen feels a little like reading their diary. I'm so anxious.

When you serve the humanity and contribute to the society without expectation, you are happy.

Our responsibility is to learn to draw upon the power of the Atonement. Otherwise, we walk through mortality relying solely on our own strength.

The more it changes, the more it's the same thing.

Print and digital comics will always coexist.

The beatitudes say, "Blessed are the poor". They don't say, "Blessed are those who care for the poor."

We got CEOs making 200 times the worker's pay, but they'll fight like hell against raising the minimum wage.

I am not blonde, yes. Have I dreamt about having a model contract? No. But have I dreamed about winning Wimbledon? Absolutely.

You might as well go in and start getting dressed. I'm going to hit his first pitch for a home run.

No one can be despised by another until he has learned to despise himself.