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Normally, people give up parliament because they want to do more business or spend more time with family. My wife said 'why don't you say you're giving up to devote more time to politics?'. And it is what I have done.

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.

There's much more we can be doing in Parliament, we could be giving more power back to people at local government level, through local referendums.

My function in life is not to be a politician in Parliament: it is to get something done.

At times I wonder whether or not your role as a member of Parliament... may in fact inhibit a relationship developing.

When you first come into Parliament, it's a daunting place because you feel you've so much to learn. Once you've been re-elected, you feel much more confident. It just gives you a bit of a boost.

People have become disillusioned with Parliament, and that threatens democracy.

I am confident that you brothers in parliament will champion the will of the people over that of the occupier.

To win power anywhere you have to convince people that you can do something for them.

Defenders of the status quo will argue that this system has served us well over the centuries, that our parliamentary traditions have combined stability and flexibility and that we should not cast away in a minute what has taken generations to build.