No one, however long they have held the post, lightly gives up the great office of Chancellor of the Exchequer. Certainly I did not.

She felt Britain should not be so dependent on coal. She was in favour of building up nuclear energy to break the dependence on coal, and the main opposition to nuclear came from the environment movement. Mrs. Thatcher thought she could trap them with the carbon emissions argument.

I've worked in a factory. I was a garbage man. I worked in a post office. It's not that long ago. I like to think that I'm just a regular guy.

My favourite books are Charles Bukowski's 'Post Office' and 'Women.'

The Treasury has enough trouble with forecasts even when they are trying to get them right.

We already have a sabbatical system. It's called opposition, and I've had enough of it.