Kenneth Clarke

“Whether we remain in the European Union will determine Britain's future role in the world and the comparative success of our economy for our children and grandchildren.”

“The political health of Britain has deteriorated very sharply. The Conservative Party must do something about it. I am the man to do it.”

“My sense is that the majority of Conservatives share my reservations about how we got into Iraq.”

“Having everybody voting to avoid a £25 fine is no way to solve public apathy.”

“Of course I'd have loved to be Prime Minister. But I'm not nursing a grievance.”

“Unless and until I can see an opportunity of actually reversing Brexit and restoring a stable membership of the European Union, then in the real world I concentrate on minimising the damage.”

“Only an ideologue deals with the world as he would wish it to be, as opposed to the world as it is.”

“Locking people up without reducing the risk of them committing new crimes against new victims the minute they get out does not make for intelligent sentencing.”

“I'm notorious for only using my mobile phone for outgoing calls: nobody knows my London number and I certainly don't do anything online.”

“If the prime minister really believes it, he must be the only person left who thinks that the recent bombs in London had no connection at all with his policy in Iraq.”

“I am sorry to upset my colleagues by saying we wasted four years in opposition, but if you do get so badly defeated as a party you do have to face up to some painful facts and you do have to change.”

“However, we do not lack anti-terrorist laws. I do not believe that the recent London bombs were the result of any deficiencies in our legal system.”

“Nigel Farage has persuaded too many people that we have lost control of our borders.”

“All political careers are a rollercoaster.”

“Referendums are designed to get round parliamentary government, and people only demand referendums when they think they can't get a majority in parliament. Mussolini was the most brilliant practitioner of referendums.”

“The Blair government has lowered the standing of politics and politicians in our country.”

“It would be immoral to walk away from the consequences of our actions, leaving behind anarchy and civil war in Iraq.”

“I am not a creature of giant business and I think that small- and medium-sized businesses will derive the most benefit from the removal of bureaucratic obstacles to trade.”

“I am a stalwart supporter of the British judiciary who are the best in the world.”

“Thatcher was the best politician I have ever witnessed.”