“We need strength and success elsewhere in our country - not by pulling London down but by building the rest of the country up.”

“In football, as in politics, resilience pays off.”

“I understand the damage the expenses crisis has done to Parliament, and the paramount importance of restoring trust in our politics.”

“The positive news is that the British economy is continuing to grow and is creating jobs. And it is positive news too that at a time of real international instability we are a safe haven in the storm.”

“I had the closest thing I have ever had to an out-of-body experience lying in bed one morning. I turned on the 'Today' programme and item four on the news was: 'The shadow chancellor has ruled himself out of the leadership.' I lay there thinking that's interesting, then I realised it was me.”

“We need strength and success elsewhere in our country - not by pulling London down but by building the rest of the country up.”

“One thing I learned about Gordon Brown is you've got to have the strength to just get in there and take him on. When you first hear him spouting his statistics and boasting about his record, it can be quite intimidating. But over time, shadowing him, I just realised that a lot of it was rubbish; a lot of it was baloney.”

“I think the British people are very, very attached to the idea that the health service is free at the point of use. But there is no reason why every doctor, nurse and teacher in this country has to be employed by the state.”

“Yes, I travel in unusual circles. George Osborne and his wife Frances are my cousins.”

“There definitely comes a time where a fresh pair of eyes and fresh leadership would be good, and the Conservative Party has got some great people coming up - the Theresa Mays, and the George Osbornes, and the Boris Johnsons.”