“In politics a week is a very long time.”

The Labour Party is a moral crusade or it is nothing.

He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

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

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.

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

I don’t know how long I’ll be competing but I’ll always be surfing. I’ll be surfing until I’m old.

The world is all the richer for having a devil in it, so long as we keep our foot upon his neck.

My family knew I was gay when I was 15, long before I got famous. But it’s a very different thing coming out to your family and coming out to the universe. That’s a big step.

My sister is also retarded. Across the board. She’s a one hundred per cent, honest to goodness, born that way retard.

Americans like a winner. If you lose, you’re nothing. I’m going to win, though. It’s good for the match that Spassky has a plus score against me. We’ve met five times. He’s won three times and we’ve drawn twice. But I’m a stronger player and a long match favors me.

I’m willing to take the blame if the strip goes down the drain, and I want the credit if it succeeds. So long as it has my name on it, I want it to be mine.

When people warned me there would be long periods out of work if I became an actor, I couldn’t keep a straight face because that was exactly what I had in mind.

After staring at origami directions long enough, you sort of become one with them and start understanding them from the inside.