Hilary Benn

“Countries with higher incomes on average achieve better human development. I do not believe that growth alone will 'cure' poverty. But I do believe that growth is necessary.”

“We cannot comfort ourselves with the idea that young people will take a greater interest in our politics as they establish themselves in a job, in their communities or in their family life.”

“The 90s was a difficult decade, with recessions in many transition countries and in emerging economies provoked by financial crises; and with continuing stagnation in Africa.”

“I grew up in a household where we talked about the state of the world over breakfast, lunch and dinner.”

“A politician can go out and speak for him or herself, but actually for the family it's difficult - although it does bind you.”

“Each year, about 45 million people are affected by war. Three hundred thousand people die looking down the barrel of a gun - and 200,000 of these are killed in countries ostensibly at peace.”

“It makes no sense to spend precious resources on propping up loss-making, state-owned enterprises when they could be used to get more children into school or provide more midwives to reduce the number of mothers dying in childbirth.”

“There is an opportunity - for the first time - for a global deal to control the movement of small arms, such as AK47s and anti-aircraft rocket launchers, as well as heavier weapons like battle tanks.”

“We need to throw away less, recycle a lot more and turn much of the rest into energy.”

“The truth is that it was local councils who asked for the power and the freedom to try different ways of encouraging residents to reduce the amount they throw way away, and it was Labour that gave them these powers.”

“Our history tells us that public institutions evolve through a process of bargaining between the state and groups in society.”

“When your father loses his job you're not sure what the future is going to be. I was conscious that people were interested in what was happening to my father.”

“Nature nurtures our souls and lifts our spirits. But it also sustains us and our economy - and it is for this reason that we take it for granted at our peril.”

“The EU has made it very clear that for frictionless trade and no tariffs on goods there is a mechanism for achieving that, but there are consequences. There are trade-offs that will have to happen.”

“In short, corruption destroys the 'deal' - the bargain - between the citizen and the state; and it harms the poorest most.”

“Rich country protectionism - barriers, subsidies and support - mean that the world supply of agricultural goods is artificially increased and world prices depressed.”

“To rebuild confidence in the power of people working together to create something better, we must give people the power to do precisely that for themselves.”

“When it comes to whether Britain should remain in the European Union, almost all political parties and traditions - Labour, the Greens, Liberal Democrats, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, and half of the Tory Party - agree that we are better off in Europe.”

“Indeed, if all of humankind could cooperate, trade and work together as the nations of the EU have done, then there would be more peace, prosperity and progress on this earth.”

“Growth means creating the right conditions for the private sector - farmers and firms - to invest and do business.”