George Osborne

Britain has no divine right to be one of the richest countries in the world. ”

Margaret Thatcher's government redistributed money from rich to poor. And that's the nature of a modern western democracy. ”

I'm a very happy, content member of David Cameron's team. I fought very hard to get my friend elected as leader of the Conservative party, then elected as the prime minister of this country, and I'm very happy being part of that team that is bringing change to this country. ”

I've learned to be true to yourself, stick to the big arguments, don't get distracted by the everyday kerfuffle that is in the nature of any democratic system. ”

If you want to change the way your banking system is regulated, if you want to learn the mistakes of what's gone wrong, then you have to change your government. ”

The message I would say to China is, 'Carry on with the reform; carry on with the change you are making.' ”

Some things never change, suck up to the government and you get an honour. ”

The wish to pass something on to your children is about the most basic, human and natural aspiration there is. ”

Just as we should never balance the budget on the backs of the poor, so it is an economic delusion to think you can balance it only on the wallets of the rich. ”

You really have to try hard to create space and, at least for a time, stop the political world from rushing in. The important thing is to remain sane. ”