“At home and abroad I have repeatedly been asked what are the main essentials of a successful prime minister.”

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

Over and above communication and vigilance, there are two factors I have always mentioned. They are sleep, and a sense of history.

Tories never actually talk about getting rid of their leader, then suddenly there us a flash of steel between he shoulder-blades and rigormortis sets in.

All these financiers, all the little gnomes of Zürich and the other financial centres, about whom we keep on hearing.

The government have only a small majority in the House of Commons. I want to make it quite clear that this will not affect our ability to govern. Having been charged with the duties of Government we intend to carry out those duties.

We are redefining and we are restating our socialism in terms of the scientific revolution

In politics a week is a very long time.

I get a little nauseated, perhaps, when I hear the phrase ‘freedom of the press’ used as freely as it is, knowing that a large part of our proprietorial press is not free at all.

I’m going on, and the Labour government’s going on.

If I had the choice between smoked salmon and tinned salmon, I’d have it tinned. With vinegar.

If you rattle along at great speed everybody inside is too exhilarated or too seasick to cause any trouble. But if you stop everybody gets out and argues about where to go next.

Everybody should have an equal chance – but they shouldn’t have a flying start.

I believe the greatest asset a head of state can have is the ability to get a good night’s sleep.

The ambition of the present Labour government is that every worker in the country will have a greater than average income.

May I say, for the benefit of those who have been carried away by the gossip of the last few days, that I know what’s going on.

Every dog is allowed one bite, but a different view is taken of a dog that goes on biting all the time. He may not get his licence returned when it falls due.