I have been reading the press more regularly than others over 50 years and it seems to me that there are things that have changed in the press that have changed its character.
From John Major
I like the best of the British press. The best of the British press is very good.
If you look back historically, admittedly a long time ago, there were three Afghan wars in which Britain didn't even come a good second. In more recent years the Russians were there with 120,000 men for ten years.
When I was in office the fundraising was done by the party treasurers.
My mother was the center of the family.
I want Britain to punch its weight in the European Community.
Of course there are regrets. I shall regret always that I found my own authentic voice in politics. I was too conservative, too conventional. Too safe, too often. Too defensive. Too reactive. Later, too often on the back foot.
The first requirement of politics is not intellect or stamina but patience. Politics is a very long run game and the tortoise will usually beat the hare.
I think the biggest mistake I made was this wretched ability to see both sides of an argument.
Well, I think there's a distinction between sexing-up the intelligence and sexing-up the presentation of the intelligence.
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