David Blunkett

Reciprocity helps us balance the need for self-determination and creative individuality with mutual hope and, therefore, what might be described as 'solidarity.' ”

How to strike the right balance between our privacy and our expectation that the state will protect us and facilitate our freedom is one of the most difficult challenges facing us all. ”

When I first came into parliament, there was, on average, a by-election every three months - due not to MPs bailing out, but because of the death rate. ”

Bishops and judges are some of the best politicians in the world. They know how to manipulate the political process. ”

It's not just parliament that requires radical modernisation. It's our democratic processes. ”

I am not a parliamentarian. I am a politician. Some MPs leave and are itching to get back. I don't feel that. This is just a work environment. ”

I was affected by the harshness of government, the reality of 16-hour days, and the pressures of modern communications. ”

Without the political parties and the volunteering work of their members day in, day out, we would have a very different sort of politics and society. ”

We need to use all the resources at our disposal in order to prosper. We need more employment, and we need employment to be spread more fairly across society. ”

Being home secretary involves having to face some of the worst of human behaviour and challenges of modern society. ”