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I've been in Parliament since 1983, and I've been involved in many issues over the time.

Have I made mistakes in my many years of political activity? Of course! I am sorry and regret them.

Unlike some politicians, I can admit to a mistake.

Basically, I have no place in organized politics. By coming to the British Parliament, I've allowed the people to sacrifice me at the top and let go the more effective job I should be doing at the bottom.

I don't think I'll ever fully get over losing the city council seat. I don't know how that happened. But it was less than 1 percent out of 50,000 votes. I'd put in six or seven years into changing L.A.

I knew quite a lot about politics before I went to Parliament.

I ran for my first office at 25 against an incumbent city councilman. I took 55% of the vote and became the youngest councilman in the area at the time.

I. cannot stoop to reply to the folly and the slander of every poor Tory partisan who assails me, and I should not have noticed you but for the fact that you are a member of the House of Commons.

It is true that I entered parliament at the age of 23, and have now been representing the people of my constituency for over twenty years.