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Some of us gave a little blood for the right to participate in the democratic process.

I lost a lot of territory I really enjoyed having, but there was no doubt I had to do it to help Democrats.

I had this notion of what I called a democratic way of looking around, that nothing was more important or less important.

I had no intention of entering politics, but then the force of events led me to become involved in politics.

I left the Democratic Party basically on issues of national security during the end of the Vietnam War.

Ever since I took to the streets when I was 17 to protest at great personal risk against the communist dictatorship, I have been a passionate democrat.

Even before I could vote, I was involved in the political arena. My father was an admirer of Adlai Stevenson, and he took me to the Stevenson for President headquarters, and he volunteered me. That was my introduction to electoral politics, which was exciting and fun and thrilling and very theatrical.

I didn't become leader to transform the Liberal Democrats into an enlarged form of the Electoral Reform Society. It's not the be all and end all for us. There are other very, very key ambitions in politics, not least social mobility and life chances, that I care about as passionately if not more.

I'm immensely proud to be a Democrat because of our party's history of fighting for justice, fairness, and equality. From Roosevelt to Obama, we've worked to bring seniors and children out of poverty, expanded civil rights, supported science and research, and pushed for equality of opportunity.