To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.

Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.

The quicker we get rid of the lobby system the better for all of us. I don't think in this day and age it is tenable to have these nods and winks, and on-the-record and off-the-record briefings.

Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.

Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.

Paddy Ashdown is the only party leader who's a trained killer. Although, to be fair, Mrs Thatcher was self taught.

We should have high expectations of our children, but politicians should not tell teachers how to meet them.

My favourite novel is Frederick Forsythe's Day Of The Jackal, the story about the unproven case of this apparent Englishman who was hired to assassinate De Gaulle….

Music and politics are in essence about communication. Without over-stretching the analogy I do feel a sense of rhythm is important in getting your message across.

The one thing we can all be sure about in politics is you are as well to expect the unexpected.

Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.

Things are as they should be at this moment. When you accept that, you become responsible for everything you have and are. You then hold the power to change your future!

Let nothing human be foreign to me

A daydreamer is a writer just waiting for pen and paper.

From lightest words sometimes the direst quarrel springs.

The air is like a butterfly With frail blue wings. The happy earth looks at the sky And sings.

I study the Bible all week, pray to the Lord, and then I speak from my heart. It's all about brutal honesty.

A blog is a message in a bottle, both in purpose and likely readership.

Everybody who works for Amblin Television has to do five jobs.

Guiltiness will speak, though tongues were out of use