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I came into politics because I wished to change things. You can't do that by lying to people; you have to educate, and persuade, and carry them with you - and it's often a long haul.

I got into politics when I was eight years old.

I entered politics in 1967; since then, continuously, I am getting elected... Fortunately I never lost the elections.

I came to politics later in life so I bring a different life experience to it.

I'm in politics to change things - if possible, for the better. I was a journalist for a long time, but I had a kind of midlife crisis, and I decided I needed to do something to get on the pitch and stop endlessly kicking over other peoples' sandcastles.

My passion for strengthening the community and making peoples' lives better is stronger now than when I first got into politics.

Politics is a rough and tumble business. It's not for the faint-hearted. I've got bruises and cuts from being in the political arena. But by and large, I understand how to navigate the process.

I have been a practitioner of tough politics for many decades. There is little that amazes me and even less that shocks me.

I am not a politician; I've never run for anything in my life. I'm an economist. I'm a broadcaster. I've been an adviser. I worked for Ronald Reagan.