Roy Jenkins

“The permissive society has been allowed to become a dirty phrase. A better phrase is the civilised society.”

“The Labour Party is and always has been an instinctive part of my life.”

“There are always great dangers in letting the best be the enemy of the good.”

“I am sure Mr Heath thinks he is honest but I wish he didn't have to have his friends say it so often.”

“The great disadvantage of our present electoral system is that it freezes the pattern of politics, and holds together the incompatible because everyone assumes that if a party splits it will be electorally slaughtered.”

“A social democratic party without deep roots in the working class movement would quickly fade into an unrepresentative intellectual sect.”

“We must not expect a full-scale peaceful revolution every time a Labour Government is elected.”