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

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.

One of the fastest ways you can profoundly change your life is to rid yourself of toxic people.

Tonight Must Last Us Forever

I fed my Yak on my spare Cadbury chocolate 21,0000ft up Everest. It was a blonde, very sweet female Yak. I made it my pet after that.

While it's a great indulgence, it's also very interesting to have three bass players on the same track.

Knowing what I know now and what I have been through, would I do it the same? I look at the alternative - a very simple life. It would have been nice to have a simple life.

Everyone is the keeper of a dream

Most drama in our lives is really rather squalid.

The thing I longed for as a teenager is now an object of neglect and scorn. I've grown to hate my telephone.

The desire to gain wealth and the fear to lose it are our chief breeders of cowardice and propagators of corruption.

As the wicked are hurt by the best things, so the godly are bettered by the worst.