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While unions did not play a part in my family life when I was being brought up, my early years were most certainly spent in a working-class community.

My father was a meat worker. He was a union organizer in the meat workers union.

My mother was a housewife. My father was a garment worker.

I think I'm the most private out of my family.

I was brought up in a very ordinary family, in fact, a worker's family. Both my father and mother were ordinary citizens.

My dad's family were pretty working class, actually.

I come from a very working class background. My dad worked in a factory for 40 years. We all put ourselves through school.

My father was very clear; I had to have an ordinary upbringing. I was put to work as a lowly-paid trainee after college. I didn't like it at the time, but I can't help but feel that that was probably the best thing for me.

I think my mom and dad knew from the very beginning that I was destined to go into public service.

My mother was a teacher, my father was a community organizer. I come from a working class background.