My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.

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.

I live nearby a graveyard, that's where I get all my inspiration for wisdom and life

If you go on the road hoping to find it, you might discover you've had it with you all along. That which you seek is yourself.

You are almost never cool to your children.

My policy on cake is pro having it and pro eating it.

She says that I wore some pretty sexy leather pants to that first meeting, but I don't remember.

The first act of insight is throw away the labels.

The key to living a moral life is this: Do nothing in private that you would be ashamed to discuss openly with your mother.

Industry, economy, honesty and kindness form a quartet of virtue that will never be improved upon.

To pray diligently is more than half the task.

Never try to reason the prejudice out of a man. It was not reasoned into him, and cannot be reasoned out.