I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.

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.

Your father is the only God. You can also become god but you must follow a simple rule and let that rule be made up of love.

We shall me much less miserable together.' -Emma Darwin to husband Charles upon grief for loss of daughter Annie

I am not convinced that men and women were ever meant to share the same house, though some people can do it beautifully.

The only people who say worse things about politicians that reporters do are other politicians.

It's a brooding melancholy that haunts me.

We have one life to live - and one chance to live it in the richest way possible.

Loneliness is black coffee and late-night television; solitude is herb tea and soft music.

I'm a terrible trumpet player...

Last time I saw a mouth like that, it had a hook in it.

I've never written an original piece for film; all the original things I've done are for the stage.