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.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I didn't much like being in Parliament physically. I found it a bit depressing. It's very dark and heavy. I like being out and about.
I knew quite a lot about politics before I went to Parliament.
Today, parliaments are more important because of the need of legitimacy, of the popular legitimacy, of public opinion legitimacy of politics. Parliaments are, at the end of the day, the only true legitimacy.
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.
One consistent thing in an otherwise inconsistent career is that I've always been passionate about parliament.
People have become disillusioned with Parliament, and that threatens democracy.
We all know what Parliament is, and we are all ashamed of it.
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.
I had almost forgotten to tell you that I have already been to the Parliament House; and yet this is of most importance. For, had I seen nothing else in England but this, I should have thought my journey thither amply rewarded.
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.
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