If someone is being very cheeky, it can be quite fun to deal with that situation. Votes: 14
I am seeking every day to restore faith in Parliament - to ensure we have a House of Commons which is representative, effective and reconnected to the people we serve. Votes: 11
I was proud to be a Tory Member of Parliament for twelve years, proud to represent Buckingham as a Tory, proud to have voted with my party 99% of the time as the record shows. Votes: 9
I don't think that people are disinterested or uninterested in politics. I think very often they are disengaged from the formal political process. To some extent they are suspicious or even despairing of formal politics as a means to give expression and effect to what they want. Votes: 9
Lying to a committee is a very grave abuse, and there ought to be a clear punishment. Votes: 9
It is quite wrong for party conferences to be used as an excuse for the Commons not to sit. Conferences could be held at weekends. Votes: 8
I'm supremely uninterested as to what is written in many of the newspapers. Votes: 8
It's a cowardly form of politics to use my spouse to beat me. Votes: 7
The Conservatives must realise that being sceptical is different from being phobic in what is an interdependent world. Votes: 7
Sally is my wife, but not my chattel or my property. Votes: 6
I pride myself on being courteous to people, and trying to fashion good relations. Votes: 6
Even youngish men can acquire wisdom as time goes by. Votes: 5
I do strongly believe myself that members of the government who sit in the House of Lords should be accountable to the elected House because otherwise there is a democratic deficit, and that is wrong. Votes: 5
When I first started out in politics I was, what you might describe as, a hard right Conservative. Votes: 5
Fairness is not about statistical equality. Votes: 5
The prime minister's job is to captain his team, his party and his government. Votes: 4
I've never been much given to little social cliques. Votes: 4
For far too long the House of Commons has been run as little more than a private club by and for gentleman amateurs. Votes: 4
There is no denying or hiding the fact that over the years I moved from well on the right of the Conservative Party, much much more to its left, and therefore to the centre of the poltical spectrum. Votes: 4
I never aspired to be Speaker simply so I could say, 'I am the Speaker of the House of Commons,' and tell my children that. Votes: 3
If you asked me if I'd rather be Speaker or a very senior minister, I'd say Speaker. Votes: 2
I'm not in the business of warning people. Votes: 2
There are people who are just very, very sniffy and snobby and have always sort of looked down their noses at me. Votes: 2
A legislature cannot be effective while suffering from public scorn. Votes: 2
I don't want to crawl over the entrails of past disputes. Votes: 1
I'm not psychic. I cannot know what is in the mind of particular public figures. Votes: 1
Possibly the fact that I was physically quite feeble, a relatively short little fellow, attracted me to that idea of a very authoritative and aggressive version of Conservative politics. Votes: 1
I think the record shows that as Speaker, I have taken the lead in cleaning up politics. Votes: 1
One consistent thing in an otherwise inconsistent career is that I've always been passionate about parliament. Votes: 0
There's no point in worrying about things you can't influence. Votes: 0