I'm not psychic. I cannot know what is in the mind of particular public figures..

I've never been much given to little social cliques..

When I first started out in politics I was, what you might describe as, a hard right Conservative..

A legislature cannot be effective while suffering from public scorn..

Fairness is not about statistical equality..

I think the record shows that as Speaker, I have taken the lead in cleaning up politics..

I am seeking every day to restore faith in Parliament - to ensure we have a House of Commons which is representative, effective and reconnected to th….

Even youngish men can acquire wisdom as time goes by..

If you asked me if I'd rather be Speaker or a very senior minister, I'd say Speaker..

For far too long the House of Commons has been run as little more than a private club by and for gentleman amateurs..

I don't want to crawl over the entrails of past disputes..

It's a cowardly form of politics to use my spouse to beat me..

I'm not in the business of warning people..

One consistent thing in an otherwise inconsistent career is that I've always been passionate about parliament..

Lying to a committee is a very grave abuse, and there ought to be a clear punishment..

It is quite wrong for party conferences to be used as an excuse for the Commons not to sit. Conferences could be held at weekends..

There's no point in worrying about things you can't influence..

I pride myself on being courteous to people, and trying to fashion good relations..

If someone is being very cheeky, it can be quite fun to deal with that situation..

The prime minister's job is to captain his team, his party and his government..

I'm supremely uninterested as to what is written in many of the newspapers..