I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.

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.

In more ways than any of us can name, love is wrapped up with the idea of expectation.

I won't tell if you don't." I winked.Granny laughed.In the South, a wink speaks louder than words.

I searched so hard for a part that was so complex

When I'm in the mode of feeling positive about love, I don't really feel the need to mark it down in song. In fact, I know what that song would sound like, and I would not subject anybody to that.

It's essentially encouraging parents, teachers, and caretakers to remind children how special they are on a regular basis.

I was a drummer in the bugle band in cadets. I marched. It's probably quite funny to look back on it.

I was a student in Germany when Hitler came to power.

We are a thick skinned people with emtpy souls. We spend our days playing dice, chess, or sleeping - and we say we are the best people that ever came to mankind?

I enjoy being a girl.

Silence is death. If you speak, you die. If you are silent, you die. So speak, and die.