David Blunkett

I'm a great aficionado of history. I was deeply affected by seeing the disintegration of any chance of democracy coping with fascism in the Weimar republic, where woolly-minded, well-meaning liberalism actually allowed the forces of darkness to use democracy, to exploit democracy, to overturn democracy. ”

It is feasible for someone who comes from a privileged background to understand the privilege they have had and to use the formal political arena in a way that would disperse power and engage with people in their own lives. ”

I don't think anyone can say I have said one thing in public and done another in private. ”

In primary schools, I set two main objectives - to cut infant class sizes and improve literacy and numeracy. ”

We must draw on our early roots and remind people why the Labour party was created and who it sought to represent. We have never been a sectional party promoting self-interest, but instead a force for engaging self-reliance and self-determination. ”

I'm as keen as the next person to preserve the right to free speech. ”

The clash between capital and labour, between those seeking to maximise profit and those with only their toil to sell, was the driving force for the creation of the trade unions in the 19th century. ”

As home secretary, I gained a reputation for being 'tough'; less concerned with liberty than with public protection. ”

When I'm in London I do have the convenience of being close to St James Park which is also good for me because it gives me an excuse to get out and get some much needed exercise! ”

Being a Labour home secretary in the 21st century means fighting a constant battle against both extreme Right and Left. ”