I think that former leaders are best seen occasionally and not too often heard - particularly on the subject of their successors!
— Charles Kennedy
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.
People are not stupid.
I can hardly think of an occasion when I've got into a stand-up fight with any political opponent. I've got my views, people know what they are, they can agree or they can choose to disagree. I'm not going to waste time just rubbishing everybody else.
I'm a fully paid-up member of the human race.
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.
I am genuinely not an over-the-top kind of person about politics or anything else.
We Liberal Democrats believe in dialogue. We believe in cooperation with both sides of industry and between both sides of industry. And we believe in the language of cooperation. We reject the language of confrontation.
I believe that access to a university education should be based on the ability to learn, not what people can afford. I think there is no more nauseating a sight than politicians pulling up the ladder of opportunity behind them.
With 24-hour news... the story moves on with the media.
I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'
Three simple words - freedom, justice and honesty. These sum up what the Liberal Democrats stand for.
I'm not someone who dwells upon past events, taking the view that life is too short.
My approach is always to try to be straight with people, especially about what my party can achieve.
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.
Yes, you need substance in politics - but I think your style also says something about how you arrive at some of your conclusions.
I will go out of this world feet first with my Lib Dem membership card in my pocket.
I should do something about the cigarettes; I quite accept that it's bad for your health, but you know a moderate tipple is positively beneficial and, at certain times, absolutely essential.
I want to see far more decisions taken far closer to the patients, the passengers and the pupils. Far more power for locally and regionally elected politicians who understand best the needs of their areas. And far more say too for the dedicated staff at all levels in health and education.
I'm a lifelong believer in trade unionism.
Immigrants provide skills that we simply cannot afford to do without. They have contributed hugely to Britain's success.
For any new leader of any party at any given time it takes time if you are not in government to establish yourself.
The one thing we can all be sure about in politics is you are as well to expect the unexpected.
There stands no contradiction between giving voice to legitimate anxiety and at the same time, as and when exchange of fire commences, looking to the rest of the country, as well as all of us in the House, to give full moral support to our forces.
Politics is much too serious to be taken too seriously; equally, there are many aspects of it so laughable as to be lamentable.
Further Education should be about the ability to learn, not the ability to pay - everyone who is able should have the opportunity, regardless of their family background. I don't want to see students struggling with huge debts or frightened off even going to university in the first place.
I do think there is a great deal of caricature around the House of Commons. It is just that kind of place.
Actually, I think it's quite sensible not to take yourself too seriously.
To be seen to be human, provided you're doing your job at the same time, is definitely not a negative, not at all.
To run an effective political party you need a degree of tribalism, it's the glue that holds everyone together.
You won't catch Liberal Democrats describing trade unionists as wreckers.
Politicians are good at saying how Government must do more, but we must also think carefully about where Government should do less.
We should have high expectations of our children, but politicians should not tell teachers how to meet them.
My health is good and it's up to me to keep it that way.
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.
Courage is a peculiar kind of fear.
