Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
To be seen to be human, provided you're doing your job at the same time, is definitely not a negative, not at all.
For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.
Taking a principled and consistent stance over Iraq has attracted much criticism from our detractors and opponents.
Public perception of the Westminster arena, with all its posturings, does little to engender a sense of voter belief.
We must restore faith in politics. Reform of the House of Lords is only one part of the answer, but it is a vital one.
Speaking to numerous teachers and nurses, I am consistently struck by the sense of mission they have about their work.
With every day that passes, David Blunkett becomes more insensitive in his language and more intemperate in his actions.
Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.
Professionally I would say taking up my constituents' problems is something I continue to enjoy after 22 years as an MP.
I believe that our country is a richer, more vibrant society precisely because it is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic society.
In my view, as a country we need to rediscover some of that skepticism about government and revisit that libertarian agenda.
Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.
We want a strong, vibrant economy for Britain so that we can set out a clear and affordable alternative programme for government.
I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!
I happen to consider myself a Highlander even before a Scot; I am proud to be British yet feel comfortable as a European citizen.
If British troops are committed to action, then the nation will, of course, support them. Their courage and skill is not in doubt.
Yes, you need substance in politics - but I think your style also says something about how you arrive at some of your conclusions.
This country has a proud history of opening its doors to generations of people fleeing personal persecution, civil unrest and war.
Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.
We have a Scottish Parliament and National Assembly for Wales, both elected by fairer votes - involving proportional representation.
If you were to describe me as teetotal, on behalf of my constituency I'd have to sue; that would lose me every vote in the Highlands.
When power is exercised exclusively at the centre, the result is rigidity of rules and alienation of the people subject to those rules.
Terrorism gravely threatens international peace and security, and as a solution, the power and apparent finality of force are seductive.
I want our party to step up its efforts to reflect and champion the concerns of everybody who has reached the second half of their lives.
Politics means facing up to hard choices and facing down prejudice, short-termism, the easy, tempting court of knee-jerk public reaction.
Many people want to scale back their working hours as they near the end of their careers, but not necessarily to give up work altogether.
The terrorist seeks to smash the most fundamental liberty of all: the right to lead our everyday lives on the basic assumption of safety.
It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.
It is my determination that we, as a party, continue to make that fundamental restatement of liberal values in the politics of our country.
A smaller-size party and parliamentary membership does not necessarily equate to lesser demands; if anything, the opposite can be the case.
In my view, nations together are stronger than when they are isolated. And because they are stronger, their people are more free, not less.
I listened to the students on campus in Plymouth, worried about their steadily deepening debts and how on earth they would ever escape them.
There are hard choices to be made in balancing the country's security and an individual's liberties. But it is a choice that has to be faced.
Democracy demands trust. It demands that sense of mutual understanding. And - it's a two way street. You've got to give - as much as you take.
I find no contradiction between being a Highlander, a Scot, a citizen of the U.K. and a citizen of the European Union at one and the same time.
As someone who has led his party through two general elections, I have not always been immune from feeling the pressure of electioneering tactics.
The late Roy Jenkins was both a mentor and a personal friend. He was a man of both phenomenal intellect and political achievement in equal measure.
Of all the principles which constitute Liberal Democracy, internationalism is the clearest, the most distinctive, and the one with the longest history.
By common consent, most European countries support the maintenance of robust welfare states and are comfortable with taxation systems that support them.
We believe that government in Britain should be working to restore our reputation on the international stage after Iraq and engage better within Europe.
Soon after the 1997 election, I argued that there was no inverse law of political gravity which said that everything which went down had to come back up.
Political parties need to look at the different kinds of support that people may need, suited to their way of life, and provide cost-effective solutions.
To involve young people and make sure that the system is more relevant to them in Scotland, we have a clear obligation to implement a policy of home rule.
We believe that government in Britain should improve the quality of people's lives and improve the quality of our public services in every local community.
The events of the Holocaust viewed through the eyes of Anne Frank are a unique and damming testament to the dreadful atrocities of that period of our history
A society which is liberal democratic cannot have public policy determined upon the basis of who has got the loudest voice - or who can brings things to a halt.
You mustn't confuse the need for effective chairmanship, which is part of the job of the boss, along with the ability to take tough decisions and to lead people.
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.
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 .
The point never to lose sight of is to be guided by the correct thing, as you see it. It's the only way to approach such profound matters and retain your integrity.